A woman to the rescue

AMMAN — Life as a refugee is a constant struggle: a struggle to find shelter, eat, provide, feel safe again, and live a decent life. Opportunities in a refugee camp are limited, and the situation does not differ much in host communities. Leaving their lives behind, refugees quite literally start from scratch. Despite the pain and agony, they find their way. Forty-four-year-old Mokhlisa is another example of refugees’ strength and the determination to find a bright future. اضافة اعلان

Ten years ago, Mokhlisa was forced to leave her home in Syria to escape the war. The night she and her family fled, her village was under heavy bombardment, leaving them with no option but to pursue an unknown future. Their journey to Jordan was terrifying. With four kids, they walked into the darkness in the middle of the night: “I cannot begin to describe the terror we went through that night, not to mention the physical exhaustion... When we saw the Jordanian border police, I broke down in tears, my legs collapsed, and I fell to the ground. I thanked God for (my) making it to this safe harbor with my family.”

It took Mokhlisa and her family a couple of years to finally settle in Ramtha city, where they currently reside. Nothing came easy in Mokhlisa’s life. Her husband’s heart condition worsened, and they had no source of income: “There were days when we did not have a cent in the house.” Determined to provide for her family, Mokhlisa started selling homemade pickled goods. She noticed interest from her Jordanian neighbors, and sales picked up. All she had in mind when she began was feeding her family. She had no intention of making it a business and never dared to dream that her work could expand. Seven years later, Mokhlisa became the backbone of her family, the sole provider for her son’s and her daughter’s families: “It’s not easy but thank God I am capable of providing and being independent.”

I cannot begin to describe the terror we went through that night, not to mention the physical exhaustion... When we saw the Jordanian border police, I broke down in tears, my legs collapsed, and I fell to the ground. I thanked God for (my) making it to this safe harbor with my family.

Mokhlisa first heard about the “Improving Protection Spaces and Practices (IPSP) for Syrians and Jordanians in Host Communities” program that Generations for Peace (GFP) implemented through one of her friends. She joined, hoping to learn new skills that would allow her to expand her business and help the people around her.

Being the eldest in the program did not deter Mokhlisa from engaging in the sessions and activities. She never missed a session and was attentive, taking notes of everything new: “I joined the program with the sole purpose of learning anything that would help me grow my small business. Never have I thought the program would give my life a new taste.” Mokhlisa explains.

“During the past 10 years, I forgot who I am. I was consistently worried about the future, feeding my family, and taking care of my sick husband. However, through the program, I could, for once, disconnect from my worries and my daily responsibility, express my thoughts, and most importantly appreciate myself.” The program provided Mokhlisa with a supportive space in which to put herself first, even if it was only for a couple of hours a day. She was able to unplug and reconnect with herself.

“It felt wonderful to feel appreciated. I was immensely proud when I shared my success story with the rest of the participants. I felt fearful at first to stand and talk in public, but once I started talking, I felt a sense of ownership and pride, and the crowd made me feel as if I was amongst my family,” she said.

 Mokhlisa found the sessions on child protection eye-opening. It had never crossed her mind that she was responsible for monitoring what her kids saw on the internet. Moreover, the social media and computer training she received in the program was very beneficial for her: “I am not saying I’m an expert now, but I can surf the web, and I can respond to requests I get on my business’ Facebook page.” She has passed the knowledge that she learned to her husband, who now handles her page on social media.

It felt wonderful to feel appreciated. I was immensely proud when I shared my success story with the rest of the participants. I felt fearful at first to stand and talk in public, but once I started talking, I felt a sense of ownership and pride, and the crowd made me feel as if I was amongst my family,

Today, Mokhlisa’s business has reached Amman, Aqaba, and other governorates. When the demand is high, she employs her Jordanian neighbors to help: “My neighbors also suffer financially, and I try to support them by asking for their assistance with work. In return, I pay for their efforts; a win-win situation.” She is confident and determined to expand her business further and help her community.


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