In the Northern Part of the West Bank,
SAFES Project is Making an Impact in the Lives of Women in the Jenin Area.
With Funding from the European Commission Through CARE UK
27 September 2006.
Two years ago, Sonia Awwad received two sheep from CARE as part of the SAFES project (Sustainable Access to Food and Economic Security), in cooperation with CARE U.K and funding from the European Commission. Some three months ago, Sonia received another sheep and three bags of feed.
As part of the SAFES project, Sonia attended training that will improve her skills in food processing, how to start her own business, beehive keeping, sheep upbringing, how to plant mushrooms, and soap manufacturing.
Sonia is saying that she benefited a lot because now she is selling milk and yogurt, and she has the money her children need for their daily expenses. Also her children’s nutrition is improving because they are eating yogurt and drinking milk. Sonia said: “I hope the number of sheep will increase so I will have more income for my family. I used to have three sheep, but the number is growing and now I have five.” “This is progress,” she added, and “now I am hopeful.” In the training offered by CARE as part of the SAFES project, Sonia met 15 women whose living conditions and financial situation are similar to hers.
Sonia started telling the women they should utilize in a practical way the skills and knowledge they gained in the training workshops. She said to them: “there is a university in our area, and I am sure we can target the students and staff there and sell them our produce.” The women realized that the university community constitutes a market, and they did not know that before they attended the training. Also, Sonia got in touch with a food distributor in Ramallah, and both agreed they will barter- Sonia will send him agricultural produce from Zababdeh village and the Jenin area, and he will send her food items that will sell where she is.
So far six women trainees joined the initiative, and they are about to open their own shop in Zababdeh village. Sonia could see that women in her rural community are eager to find creative ways for employment, because there are no jobs in the area and income is very poor. Sonia said: “I am looking for more women who can produce food items with little capital. My dream is to have many women making jam out of the grapes or fig, and we can be creative.” Sonia added: “If a woman has wheat she will sell it for a meager price, but if she will process it without preservatives, she will make lots of money. I didn’t know that before!” Sonia is telling women trainees in the SAFES project to take initiative and improve their own living conditions.
Sonia’s husband is unemployed. He used to be a tailor and he owned his shop, and clients came from Israel behind the Green Line. He closed the shop five years ago, with the Intifada and now the Separation Wall. Now he rented a piece of land and he is cultivating it with food items that will benefit Sonia’s initiative.
Sonia had dropped out of school when she was in 10th grade during the first Intifada, then she got married. With the training she received as part of the SAFES project, Sonia believes there is no limit to her aspirations. Also she is helping raise awareness in her village. She said: “I want people to accept the ideas I learnt through the SAFES project, and I want women to come up with new ideas to improve their economic conditions.” According to Sonia, “the reaction of the people is wonderful.”
Sonia believes that the SAFES project is “fantastic” because it helps many people in terms of awareness raising and economically. Had it been for SAFES, Sonia believes there is no way she would have sheep and become self-reliant.
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