The Syrian Free Women's Foundation was established in Qamishlo in 2014 under the name of Free Women's Foundation with the goal of supporting women in the economic, cultural, social and health areas. The foundation expanded its activities and changed its name to the Syrian Free Women's Foundation in 2021.

Working under the motto "A free woman is the foundation of a free society", the Syrian Free Women's Foundation also tries to reach women's institutions around the world and to call attention to the living conditions of women in Syria and the Middle East. The Foundation opened offices in Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, Tabqa, Kobanê, Derik, Girkê Legê, Hesekê as well as in Washokanî, Girê Spi, Hol camps, and has also undertaken many projects in the cultural, health and social areas. It provided training to thousands of women in many regions of North-East Syria and offered a medical centre, kindergarten, tailor shop, overlock seam and music workshops, in addition to courses in English, Arabic and Kurdish.

TRAININING CYCLES

The Health Committee of the Syrian Free Women's Foundation conducted 716 seminars on first aid training and medical teams were established. 757 women were trained to become nurses. Moreover, 105 medical training cycles were offered for war preparations. The Arî Clinics serving women and children continued its activities uninterruptedly, providing treatment for 5,195 women and children.

A clinicar, organized by the Syrian Free Women's Foundation with the help of a group of volunteer women, continues to visit villages. The clinicar served 219 villages and treated 1,326 patients. 5,195 patients were treated in medical centres in Qamishlo, Hesekê and Girkê Legê. On the other hand, an alternative medicine centre in Dirbêsiyê and Hesekê provided support for women and children, from natural remedies to physiotherapy.

Apart from health education, the Education Committee focused on ideological education for the construction of a democratic, ecological and pro-woman life. 381 training cycles were offered, and 546 families were visited.

Vocational training programs were also offered to support women financially. 108 sewing training cycles were thus opened, and 517 women received certificates at the end of the courses. 342 women received certificates in 85 hairdresser training cycles. The foundation, which considers children as its target group, offered playgrounds and music courses. In total, 381 training cycles were introduced for 2,755 people.

ACTIVITIES IN 2023

The priorities of the Foundation include opening alternative medical centres in other cities and procuring medicine for treatment from the rich lands in North-East Syria instead of purchasing it from foreign countries. The Foundation will also focus on the education of orphaned children and deal with their health problems in 2023. It furthermore aims to develop relations with other women's organizations and institutions in Syria and the Middle East. Children's parks will be built in the Washokanî Camp and other camps. Existing music education centres for children will be strengthened in cities where the Foundation has offices.

Speaking to ANF, Melike Hesaf, an executive member of the Syrian Free Women's Foundation, said: “The establishment purpose of the Foundation is to support and train women to provide job opportunities. The purpose of our health training is to make women competent in first aid. There has been an intense war in our region and our people want to possess advanced skills in the health area as part of the Revolutionary People's War.”

Hesaf stated that they would undertake more efficient projects in 2023. She concluded: “We opened our health centre in Kobanê this year. We will increase our support for our office in Kobanê. We have alternative medical centres in Hesekê and Dirbesiyê. One of the priorities of this year is to open alternative medical centres in the cities where we have offices, primarily in Qamişlo and Dêrîk. We will supply alternative medicine materials from there. We will produce the herbs we need by our own means. Our music education centres for children will be more efficient this year, after some of our offices were suspended last year.”