Millions of refugees fleeing the civil war in Syria have attempted to make money in nearby countries to ensure the survival of their loved ones. In Turkey, Rizk, a nongovernmental organization affiliated with the Syrian Forum, has turned around the lives of hundreds of refugees by finding them jobs. 

Howraa al-Bosh, who earned a bachelor's degree in computer science, always dreamed of being a TV presenter. Escaping the war in Syria, she ended up living in the Turkish town in Urfa. She told Al-Monitor, “I heard of Rizk through people who told me the organization had been able to find employment for many Syrians. I applied and ended up working on several TV programs, such as 'Al-Ayadi al-Baydaa,' which tackled the problems faced by Syrian refugees, as well as 'Tokous Ramadiniya,' which discussed Ramadan traditions in Muslim countries for a production house called HD Production.”

Ibtissam Brahim also secured a job through Rizk. The mother of four who lost her husband during the conflict worked as a nurse in a clinic in Syria before the revolution. Stranded in Turkey with her young children whose ages range from 5 to 11, Brahim’s main priority is to provide for them. “I needed to work. I tried to find a job as a nurse but it was difficult because I was Syrian,” Brahim said.

Through Rizk, she was able to find work as a dressmaker. “Sewing is very removed from nursing, but it is a job that gives me hope. Employment allows a woman to remain independent,” she explained.