Syria, Rojava, Kurdistan, coop, cooperative, cooperatives, coops, women, jineology, jineologi, feminism, women's liberation

Maya Shop: an example of Rojava’s autonomous women’s economy

This report by Şêrîn Zêrvan first appeared on Gazete Sûjin, 1st June, 2017. It has been edited here to improve readability.

QAMISHLO – The women who are building the autonomous economy in Rojava develop their work in Maya shop day by day.

Communal life has continued to be built in Qamishlo [Qamişlo / Qamishli / Al-Qamishli], city of Cizîr [Jazira / Cizîrê‎ / Cezîre] Canton in Rojava. In Maya Shop, which was founded in 2011 in Qamishlo, the women have been producing cleaning products.

Nalîn Îsa (21), who has worked in the shop for four years, says she earns money without having to rely on anyone.

Syria, Rojava, Kurdistan, coop, cooperative, cooperatives, coops, women, jineology, jineologi, feminism, women's liberation

‘We find our freedom in the autonomy’

Stating that they do all the work in Maya collectively as women, Nalîn notes that they are reviving their lives with their labour. Nalîn says, “Production is more meaningful in the hands of the women. The women work here with the consciousness of rebuilding, despite all the difficult conditions. We find our freedom in the autonomy. We are very happy here. Our self-confidence is improving day by day.”

Syria, Rojava, Kurdistan, coop, cooperative, cooperatives, coops, women, jineology, jineologi, feminism, women's liberation

‘The women don’t look to men’

Another woman working in the Maya shop is Helîme Qasimê. Stating that they work at 8am in the morning until 5pm, Helîme says, “I have worked in this shop for four years. We hope that all women will take part in work like us. No woman should agree to stay at home. The women don’t look to men. Women are advancing day by day and getting closer to their freedoms.”