Empowering women in Rural Homs through literacy and dialogue

In the farming community of rural Homs, a transformative initiative has taken place. With generations of unequal social norms, women and girls in many rural areas in Syria are subjected to different forms of discrimination and social injustice. Early marriage and economic disadvantage are core examples of this issue, and many women find themselves lacking the knowledge needed to become empowered as a result of being denied their education.

To address these challenges, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been implementing two innovation pilot projects on the prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Homs and Rural Damascus governorates under the ‘Building Local Resilience in Syria (BLRS)’ project. The pilot projects are funded by UK Aid and implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

At the heart of these pilots are Dimitra Clubs (DC), safe spaces where rural community members, opinion leaders, and community influencers, engage in meaningful dialogue about common issues, build their skills in peaceful conflict resolution, and seek solutions for the community’s best interest. In Tal Dahab, a village in Homs governorate, women used the DC platform to discuss and highlight their need for basic literacy and arithmetic skills. FAO responded by launching a literacy course designed to help women farmers better manage their finances.

 Transforming Lives Through Education

The literacy course has had a profound impact on participants, as the essential reading and calculation skills  they learned have empowered them to manage their lives better, and hope for a brighter future.

“I am now more self-reliant than before,” said Nofa Hamada, a mother of three and a participant in this course. “When buying from the shop, I can now read price labels and add up costs to make sure I’m paying the right price. My husband is missing, and my children are all of school going age; it is very important to be careful with my spending so that I can pay for their education,” she adds.

For Amina Esber, a land laborer and the breadwinner for her family, the literacy sessions have offered greater control over her finances: “Before, I had no idea if the money I received was correct. Now, I can count my wages and make sure I am not being cheated.”

Amina’s newfound confidence extends to her role as a mother. Her 20-year-old son, who was deprived of basic education due to suffering from epilepsy since his birth, is now benefiting from the lessons Amina brings home: “We study together,” she said. “He deserves a chance in life,” Amina continued.

Moreover, Amina can see the impact of this course on her personality, as she explains: “I can read the road signs and know that I am on the right path wherever I go. This makes me feel safer and more confident.”

The transformative impact has inspired these women to think beyond personal gains. “I now realize how literacy could change women’s lives,” Nofa noted: “If I had a proper education, I could have found a job and relied on myself, so I will make sure my daughters get an education.” Nofa adds. She hopes the Dimitra Club meetings will also provide skill-building opportunities that could generate additional income for the women.

 More than words

The Dimitra Clubs have equipped women farmers with literacy skills and also served as a platform to discuss social issues, such as early marriage as a form of violence against women and girls. Through these meetings, women have found emotional support and solidarity.

Khitam Othman, who has supported her family alone since her husband went missing 13 years ago, shared her experience of being married at 13 years old and has come away with a transformed view on life: “I did not have the education to adequately provide for my family when my husband disappeared. I will not rush my daughter into marriage because I know from my own experience that her education comes first. She will only marry when she finds someone who respects her,” she elaborates.

The VAWG innovation pilot projects target 3 000 individuals overall across 31 locations in Homs and Rural Damascus governorates through discussion, social cohesion, and empowerment activities. In addition to Dimitra Clubs, the prevention of VAWG pilots target couples at the household level through the Discussion Group Series (DGS) activity, a series of facilitated discussions focused on joint decision making and peaceful resolution of disagreements between couples engaged in agriculture.

Together, these modalities express FAO’s commitment to empowering rural women at both the household and community levels, fostering greater equality, reduced violence, and enhanced agency for women and girls over their lives.