Fîdan Rêzan/JINHA

EFRIN- Women's life is very hard in Syria due to ongoing the war in the region. With the embargo and blockade make this situation worse; however, women in the process of revolution have achieved great opportunities, they will be strong by leaving difficulties behind them.

Women are wanted to be powerless with ongoing fighting, tension, embargo and especially violence imposed by men. In western Kurdistan there are opportunities of freedom for women through their actives to make development in the future. With the support of civil society organizations in Efrin Canton, People's Bazaar, about 1,000 square meters, has been opened for the citizens. There are 130 workshops in the Bazaar.

Last year on June 7, People's Bazaar was opened and it was source of income for all the people in the region. 47-year-old Fatma Osman is working in Efrin Canton Bazaar. She disagrees with the idea that women must be stay between four walls and she said, "There weren't many women worked in the workshops before the revolution. But in my opinion, women must work to not need anyone else.''

Fatma stated that she has fought against the mentality of her husband and she continued to talk by saying, "Although I made great efforts to change this mentality, I didn't have any results. In the end, we were divorced. I wanted to live comfortably with my children. Then, I had to work for not need any other people.''

Fatma said that she used to work sewing before. When she divorced, she needed to work again, sewing clothes to earn a living. Fatma said, "I have all the power to be able to growing my children by myself without needing any one. Before, the people said that women couldn't live without their husband. However, I didn't accept that. Now women show us that we can take place in all areas of life without any fear. Women were wanted to be powerless.''

Fatma said in the end to women, "I'm calling on all women to not surrender to the government system, and save yourselves. Don't let anyone apply pressure on you. Be awake, strong and protect your rights. We need to have faith in women. Employment of women is not a shame, the shame is that she need a help from someone.''

(en/rc/ra/gd)