Speaking about their works and activities in North and East Syria, Tell Majdel City Council Co-chair Sacîda Al-Ased says they have changed the perspective of tribes towards women by raising awareness.
Tell Majdel is a small city of Hasakah Canton, northeastern Syria. NuJINHA spoke to Tell Majdel City Council Co-chair Sacîda Al-Ased about their works and activities to ensure gender equality in all facets of society.
Noting that they, as the city council, have held awareness-raising training courses, seminars and meetings to ensure gender equality, Sacîda El-Esed said, “Our society starts gathering around communes and assemblies step by step. We have held training courses for women, who are the most active group in our society. After attending our courses, women participate in assemblies, delegations and communities to protect their lands and build a new life. We also start holding ideological training courses and everyone can attend these courses.”
‘We need more support’
The city council has also developed projects to improve the economy of the region. “We have carried out economic development projects to reduce unemployment in the region and encourage women to participate in the labor force. We need more support to carry out our new projects,” she said.
They lead a change in society
Underlining that they faced difficulties in carrying out their projects due to Arab tribes, Sacîda El-Esed said, “At the beginning, the Arab tribes in the region did not approve of our works and activities. However, we never gave up. Thanks to our struggle, they realized that our works and activities serve the people. We held many meetings with these tribes and finally we have changed the perspective of tribes towards women by struggling.”
Sacîda El-Esed thinks more projects must be developed for women. “We have carried out many art projects for women because women perform art secretly in this region. By carrying art projects, we aim to make women artists visible in our society.”
