A new women’s radio station, Star FM, began its broadcast in Tirbespiye [Tirbespî / Al-Qahtaniyah] in Northern Syria. The radio was launched by Union of Free Women Northern Syria-Rojava and will broadcast mainly about women related issues. The slogan of the radio is “Star: The voice of the woman and life”. In addition to the residents of
In a small street in Kobane, the walls surrounding the Kongra Star building – the women’s movement within the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria – house a vast and peaceful garden, green and flowery on this sunny day of late April. The calm is disturbed only by the roar of the generators. In the shade
Kurdish women at Turkey’s only feminist news website, Jin News, and elsewhere are taking a new approach to journalism. This being Turkey, they haven’t escaped pressure: Many have been detained, put on trial or threatened. The only online feminist news website in Turkey is marking International Women’s Day under state censorship. Access to the website
Kongreya Star’s Committee of Women’s Economy has formed three special agricultural co-operative societies for women to develop the women’s economy in Kobanî [Kobanê / Ayn al-Arab]. The administrators are also planning to open more co-operatives in different fields. These co-operative societies are formed by people who co-operate voluntarily in order to benefit society economically and culturally through common
Adiba Tawoos moved from Aleppo to Qamishlo [Qamişlo / Qamishli / Al-Qamishli] seven years ago, and now she works in Şilêr Co-operative [pronounced Shi-lair]. We had an interview with her, she said, “We didn’t have work, but since the Rojava revolution we’ve been getting work opportunities to provide us with our daily bread.” Fifty-four year old Adiba moved to
A great part of the agriculture in Afrin [Afrîn / Efrîn] relies on women’s labour. Women living in rural areas work in agriculture, co-exist with nature and improve their economy. The agricultural work of women is often characterised by collective work; women get together and go to work in the fields and gardens. This scene is
The ten workers in Al Barakah Co-operative are about to finish making the winter supplies, such as dried vegetables, pickles, pumpkin jam and olives. The Women’s Council announced the formation of this co-operative, in co-ordination with the Committee of Economy and Municipalities. The co-operative is called Beit Al Barakah [House of Delight], and it aims to get women
After two months of hard work, Inana Agricultural Co-operative, which is supervised by Kongreya Star in Afrin [Efrîn / Afrîn], has started harvesting the crops of green onions and garlic, and selling them in the markets of the region. The agricultural season was very successful last year in making profits for the members of Inana Agricultural Co-operative
A food manufacturing co-operative society called Yekbûn has been opened by some women in the Hilaliyah neighbourhood in Qamishlo [Qamişlo / Qamishli / Al-Qamishli]. Yekbûn means “to be one”. There are four women in the co-operative, and they make food in the house of one of the members. The women work with faith and spirit, relying on a communal way
Cooperative societies have been established in North Syria to develop the communal economy. They have proven that they can satisfy people’s needs and prevent some traders from monopolising, and so far there are more than 142 co-operatives. A co-operative society is an independent group of people who co-operate voluntarily for shared social, economic and cultural benefits.
On autonomous spaces, the connection of struggles and women’s revolution in Rojava We came to Rojava as women and feminist internationalists, eager to learn from the Kurdish Women’s Movement, to live and to work with our Kurdish friends and comrades and to be part of the revolutionary process of building up and defending vivid alternatives
The Women’s Committee in Manbij [Minbic / Mumbuj] formed a co-operative for women on 6 September in co-ordination with the Economic Committee. It included a number of women who will make winter foods and distribute them to the markets. The co-operative includes 10 workers who joined as members by buying 16 shares. The co-operative will aim to support the women’s
