Suad is a 35-year-old widow and is a mother of five children. As an immigrant without any identification papers, it was difficult for her to find a job. Raising five kids in today’s time added to her struggle. Suad’s struggle, however, was lessened soon after she attended The Art of Living’s tailoring program organized in her locality. The program proved to be a turning point in her life. She learned the vocational skills and was empowered with immense self-confidence and self-assurance to earn a living as a tailor in her neighborhood. Now, she is one of the most active tailors in her community and supports her family confidently.
The Art of Living’s Women Empowerment Program in Iraq equips them with skills to achieve economic stability. In fact, to address the emotional and psychological needs of these women, trauma relief workshops were also organized.
The trauma relief workshops help women release the stress accumulated over a course of time. These programs have helped them overcome the constant fear of attack, insecurity, and trauma from the loss of loved ones. The women who are often the sole breadwinners of their families are empowered to take life head-on.
Vocational training inspires, empowers and makes women independent
Tailoring Program
The Tailoring Program provides women with vocational skills required to establish their own business. The graduates of the program organize bazaars (market) to showcase and sell their creations. The bazaars allow the women to:
- gain profit from their products
- apply marketing and management skills they learned in the training
- engage in community outreach
- implement the communication skills they acquired
- increase awareness about women empowerment programs to involve more women from their community.
Inspired Iraqi woman opens a fitness club
Walaa, a 24-year-old trained Art of Living Trauma Relief Teacher, lived one of her dreams recently. She opened a health and fitness club in Baghdad. Her dream came true after she underwent The Art of Living programs, where she received the skills, training, and confidence needed to open a fitness club. Her club provides programs for weight loss, nutritional plans for healthy eating, and yoga and breathing techniques classes.
Computer Program
The Computer Training Program begins with an introduction to computers and its use. As the program continues, the women learn:
- the basics of computer skills
- to use Windows programs - Word, Excel, and Paint - and create their own resume
- to save and delete files, print and copy
- to use the disk drive and flash drive
- to navigate the Internet
Graduates of the program share that the new skill set equips them to apply and secure government as well as administrative jobs.
