In order to administer candle-making training to women in Baghdad, our local team identified ten women willing to undergo intensive candle-making training so that they could pass on this knowledge to other women in our program and serve as a resource to program participants in the months and years ahead. After nine months of an extensive selection and training process, I finally had the opportunity to meet these women and understand first-hand what this program means to them. This meeting challenged every single one of my expectations and left me feeling incredibly optimistic about the next phase of our project.
The women comprising this group joined our project from different areas in Baghdad, and they have varying education levels and social statuses. In Iraq, social differences can be a really divisive force. For example, within Baghdad, women from Sadir City who wear conservative and traditional outfits can sometimes be uncomfortable walking in Karrada district where styles are more modern. I’ve worked on projects benefiting Iraqi women since 2003 and have seen first hand how difficult it is to overcome these challenges. Therefore, I knew how critical it would be to work with a motivated and cohesive group of women who will serve as leaders and examples to other women in this program.
After we exchanged greetings, I introduced myself to the group and learned their names. I had come prepared with a list of questions to ask them, in the hope of getting to know them personally and understanding their professional aspirations. I wanted to ask them about what they think of this project, how it may differ from other projects they’ve heard of or have been a part of, and finally, to learn their expectations and ensure that they aligned with our own.
As is typical in Iraq, I was expecting the women to be shy and not to engage in discussion quickly, but to my surprise, they were all eager to answer my questions and to participate in the discussion about the project and their prospective roles. I was surprised that even though we were meeting for the first time as a group, they didn’t hesitate to share their opinions and feelings with each other.
Given the dire economic situation in Iraq in general, and for Iraqi women in particular, I expected the women to be interested in this opportunity largely for the chance to increase their income. I was wrong about this, too. When asked about the main reason they decided to work with us, I was surprised to learn that increased income, while important, wasn’t their main motivation. One woman, Sahar, said that raising her self-esteem is her biggest motivation. Suhad and Lamya’a shared the same feedback. Lamya’a added, “This project is an opportunity to take our lives in a different direction. I hope to build my confidence and prove that I’m capable of making a difference in my life, after missing the chance to finish school and getting married at such a young age. “
These responses reminded me that our project is not only a tool to help women generate an income—for many women, it’s a second chance. This entire experience brought to light the secondary benefits that a program like this can bring. Economic opportunity is important, but with it comes the ability to dictate one’s own destiny. I now know how motivating this prospect is for these women.
-Zedan Mohamad joined Prosperity Catalyst as the Iraq Program Director at the start of 2014. Zedan formerly worked for the United States Institute of Peace as a Middle East/North Africa program specialist. He has spent nearly ten years working in civil society, NGO capacity building, and grant management, five of which were spent in Iraq. He is eager to bring economic opportunity to Iraqi War Widows and promote peace and prosperity in the country. In his free time, Zedan enjoys spending time with his wife and children.