Ira came to Poland after the Russia-Ukraine war devastated her life and home. She now teaches Zumba classes as part of a mental health- boosting programme at an inclusive community centre.
Gloria is a soap-maker in a Ugandan refugee settlement. After fleeing war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, she now employs seven other women and teaches others business skills.
Rama is a Rohingya refugee who fled persecution in Myanmar and now works as a first aid and fire safety manager at Cox’s Bazar, the world’s largest refugee settlement in Bangladesh.
Najlaa and her family left everything behind in Syria and moved to Turkey, after civil war broke out in Syria. In Turkey she set up "Kareemat" — a support group for women like her to help them make a fresh start.
Ira's story
After the Russia-Ukraine war devastated her life and home, Ira, from Eastern Ukraine escaped with her five-year-old son to Poland.
Magda Klimczak/ ActionAid
Ira fled to Poland after the Russia-Ukraine war devastated her home. She escaped with her five-year-old son, but her husband, a border guard in Ukraine, had to stay behind. Although she found accommodation, Ira had no income and no one to talk to about her struggles.
Ira discovered Conflict Kitchen, a social foundation and cafe co-created by refugees. Conflict Kitchen unites people from across the world through food, and also offers essential services like legal advice, counselling, and classes. One of their key initiatives is the Refugee Dance Club, where people can exercise together and support their mental health.
Now, Ira is a dance teacher at the club. Connecting with other women facing similar challenges has helped her begin to heal and settle into her new life in Poland.
"They support people from all backgrounds, different countries, religions, and beliefs. You can be yourself, and everyone understands," Ira says.
By donating to our Christmas appeal, you could help ensure that initiatives like these continue to support people like Ira.
A £10 donation this Christmas could pay for a displaced woman to receive an hour of one-to-one support with a caseworker, to help them resettle and rebuild their life.
Gloria's story
Gloria came to the Imvepi refugee settlement in Uganda in 2021, after fleeing war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Things were extremely difficult, and she struggled to find food, water, shelter or the money to buy those things. She didn’t know where to start.
That was why she joined the Community Transformation Agenda (COTA) — an organisation run by refugees at the settlement.
The group offers an array of training courses so women and girls can learn about their rights, build new skills and create the future they want.
Gloria decided to join their soap-making course, which not only taught her a new skill but also allowed her to earn money by selling the soap she made. She also attended COTA’s training on financial literacy and a course on leadership so she could take her business to the next level.
With everything she has learned, Gloria has become a leader in her community as the vice secretary at COTA and the executive director of a soap-making group at the settlement.
Now, she has the money to buy what she needs and can put food on the table.
"That training has helped us so much. It has had a big impact on me", Gloria says.
Gloria is determined to share her knowledge so more refugee women and girls can move towards independence, like she has.
ActionAid has worked with COTA since 2018 and has been helping to develop their training courses so more women and girls can access them. With donations like yours, we can continue supporting work like this across the world.
A £30 donation this Christmas could provide equipment for a group of women to set up a soap-making business.
Gloria is vice secretary of Community Transformation Agenda (COTA), a women-led community organisation working in Imvepi and Rhino refugee settlements in Uganda.
Immaculate Bashaba /ActionAid
Rama's story
Rama is an ActionAid site manager at Cox’s Bazar.
Fabeha Monir/ActionAid
Rama and her family are Rohingya refugees and came to Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh — the world's largest refugee settlement — after fleeing persecution in Myanmar in 2012.
In Bangladesh, it was very hard for anyone to find work outside the camp. This meant Rama and her family struggled to buy basic necessities and she couldn’t afford to send her children to school.
ActionAid partnered with the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) to set up the Camp Coordination and Camp Management Project (CCCM) at Cox’s Bazar in 2005. Through this project, Rama and many other refugee women are able to get jobs in site management at the camp.
As a Site Manager, Rama has enrolled in training in cyclone preparedness, first aid, water safety and fire safety. Her role is to keep the camp safe and conduct women's awareness sessions around these topics.
This is particularly important as Cox’s Bazar is prone to climate disasters like flooding and wildfires.
"I like that I am working and doing something good for my community and people", Rama says.
With this job, Rama learns new skills, plays a critical role in camp safety, and earns an income so she can provide for her family and send her children to school.
By donating to ActionAid, you directly support projects like the CCCM and enable more women to get jobs and become financially independent.
A £20 donation this Christmas could help cover the cost of a one-day workshop for ten women on business skills, leadership or women's rights.
Najlaa's story
In 2015, Najlaa fled Syria with just the clothes on her back when the civil war escalated.
In Kilis, Turkiye, her new home, she witnessed other refugee women struggling to secure basic necessities which inspired her to take action, even though she had nothing herself.
Najlaa faced further hardships during a devastating earthquake that displaced her family again. The trauma of her experience motivated her to set up a support group, "Kareemat" for other displaced women. The group provides psychological and financial aid, especially to women dealing with the ongoing effects of war and conflict.
The high cost of living and barriers to education and employment weighed heavily, especially as she saw child marriage becoming a last resort for struggling families. She became a vocal advocate against these practices and emphasised the need for dignity and economic self-sufficiency for refugee women.
"It was very hard when I first came here as a refugee, but after all these years, I feel like I am living in my hometown", Najlaa says.
ActionAid has been partnering with Kareemat since 2023 to expand its training programmes and reach more women and girls. By donating to our Christmas appeal, you are helping partnerships like this to grow.
A £50 donation this Christmas could help a refugee community set up a safe space for women and girls.
Najlaa founded Kareemat in Turkiye to help displaced women get back on their feet.
Cansu Yıldıran / ActionAid
Page updated 8 November 2024