In the suburb of war-weary Damascus, Nada, a 42-year-old mother, found herself standing at a crossroads. Years of emotional struggle, economic hardship, and the relentless pressure of raising children alone had left her feeling like a shadow of her former self.
She claims : “there is a certain silence that consumes you. It's not tranquility. It is the quiet of hopelessness.”
For years, Nada carried the weight of trauma and violence in silence. She had no income of her own, no safe space to reflect or rebuild, and little confidence that change was even possible. She tried (more than once) to lift herself up, but the challenges seemed insurmountable.
That changed the day she walked through the doors of the Women’s Support and Empowerment Centre in Qudsaya, run by the Syrian Family Planning Association (SFPA). At first, she was unsure. Would anyone truly understand what she had endured? Would she be judged? Could healing even begin?
She didn’t find answers immediately, but she did find something else a safe space. A place where women like her were not only welcomed, but seen, heard, and uplifted.
when
country
Syria
region
Arab World
Related Member Association
Syrian Family Planning Association
Women’s Support and Empowerment Centre
SFPAA New Beginning
Nada began by attending awareness sessions on protection from gender-based violence, learning for the first time that her experience mattered—and that she had the right to live free from fear and harm. These sessions equipped her not only with knowledge but also with a sense of personal agency. She began to think not just about surviving but thriving.
As she slowly regained her sense of self, the center's team encouraged her to explore vocational training opportunities starting with a tailoring course. Stitch by stitch, she pieced together more than just fabric. She began weaving a future for herself and her children. The sound of scissors on cloth, the rhythmic hum of the sewing machine, it became a kind of therapy, a source of focus and purpose.
“I started dreaming again. Not big dreams. Just simple, clear ones like being able to buy groceries for my kids without borrowing money. Or seeing them go to school in clothes I made myself.” - Nada, 42
But Nada didn’t stop at tailoring. She also joined a digital marketing course offered at the center, where she learned to photograph and promote her handmade incense and traditional Sudanese garments online. The confidence she gained from this dual skillset creative and digital was transformative.
Transformation from Within
As Nada grew in strength, her family felt the ripple effects. Her relationship with her children improved. Her home felt warmer, safer and no longer weighed down by hopelessness but energized by possibility.
“I was finally able to draw a clear plan for my professional and family life,” she says with pride. “I began to prioritize what matters, to let go of what was holding me back, and to look forward—not behind.”
Today, Nada is not just a survivor, she’s a creator, an entrepreneur, and a role model for other women in the similar situations. She continues to develop her products, market them online, and dreams of one day opening her own small tailoring shop. Her children see in her what every child deserves to see in a parent: strength, stability, and hope.
Nada at the Women’s Support and Empowerment Centre in Qudsaya
SFPAA Shared Mission
Nada’s story is not an isolated case—it is the very reason why the Women’s Support and Empowerment Centre in Qudsaya exists. It is a testament to the impact of community-based, holistic support: where psychological well-being, protection from violence, economic empowerment, and social inclusion come together to transform lives.
Through its partnerships and in line with the mission of IPPF Arab World Regional Office, SFPA continues to empower women like Nada; women who, with just the right amount of support, can turn despair into direction, silence into self-expression, and hardship into hope.
“I didn’t just learn to sew. I stitched together the pieces of my life again.” - Nada
Nada at the Women’s Support and Empowerment Centre in Qudsaya
SFPA