Women Center is a women empowering project setup by Maram Foundation for Relief and Development in the largest IDPs camp in Syria, the Olive Tree Camp (OTC) Also known as Atmeh camp on the Syrian – Turkish borders. The main goal of this project is to empower displaced women on two levels: Educational and Vocational by training them on how to turn handicrafts and skills such as knitting and embroid
ery into professions to gain their living and overcome poverty, as well as by providing them with social and psychological support through series of sessions and debates on how to improve their livelihood and overcome their situation as war victims and refugees. The project aims also at empowering illiterate women by teaching them how to read, write and count, something that would motivate them to be active agents capable of achieving positive change in their communities. Eight teachers now run the center which is composed of three tents erected in an olive grove (Two tents dedicated to the vocational trainings while the third one has been equipped with a board, table and chairs to serve as a class for the literacy courses.) The center opens its doors to all the women of the camp between 10:00 till 16:00 everyday, except Fridays. Shortly after the official opening of the center in April 2013, trainees started to produce remarkable items and to make clothing for their families and neighbors.
