NGO finds work for Syrian refugees in Turkey
Rizk, a nongovernmental organization affiliated with the Syrian Forum, has been able to secure jobs for many Syrian refugees in Turkey and now hopes to equip Syrians with the skills to rebuild their country when the war is over.
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.
