Salwa's Story: Women's Economic Empowerment in Sinjar

In the wake of the genocide in 2014, many Yazidi women were forced to become the primary income-earners for their families, in addition to their child-rearing and homemaking responsibilities.

Salwa, a mother of 4, is one of the women who had no option but to take on this role in order to provide for her children.

Salwa and her family resided in Tel Qasab before ISIS seized Sinjar. While her husband was deployed in the Iraqi army, she cared for the children — particularly their son, who had trouble walking since birth.

After fleeing to the Sinjar Mountains, Salwa's family underwent years of uncertainty. With little food or water, Salwa had to endure 8 years of hardship, moving her family from Sinjar Mountain to the Syrian border, and then to Khanke Camp in northern Iraq. The unexpected arrest and imprisonment of her husband only exacerbated their dire situation.

Salwa returned to her hometown in 2020 to provide a better life for her children.

“The situation was quite challenging. We struggled to get essential services like food, water, health care, and education. Without income opportunities or my husband's presence, I couldn't offer a stable livelihood for my children,” says Salwa.

Nadia’s Initiative and implementing partner Mission East reached out to Salwa to provide her with a life-changing opportunity to establish her own business. Through Nadia’s Initative’s women’s small business incubator, Salwa received an array of training, psychosocial support, and seed money to open a fabric shop in her neighborhood.

“I feel empowered and happy now that I can support my children and give them a better livelihood. This financial independence has had a direct positive influence on me and my family's physical and psychological well-being. I can now look forward to a brighter future for me and my children."

This project is funded by UAE Aid.