Hanadi achieves part of her dream in “We Work” Project
Nearly two years ago, young woman Hanadi (24 years), from Gaza City, went to bed and she was quite all right. Few hours later, when she woke up, Hanadi was shocked as she could not see anything around her. She was terrified and panicked; she loudly shouted to ask for her mother’s help.
“Oh Mom, I do not see anything”; that was the first thing that she said to her mother when Hanadi heard her mother’s voice beside her. Hanadi’s mother tried to calm her down and then took her to ophthalmologist. That time, Hanadi was a student in the 3rd year studying Social Work at the Islamic University of Gaza.
After many medical examinations, it was found that Hanadi has lost her sight; there was no specific reason for that as the doctor said. At that time, Hanadi was a little disappointed which greatly reflected on her spirits. For a short period of time, she isolated herself to reconsider her life and thoughts. Eventually and by her mother’s support, Hanadi decided to return to the university and continue her study in her specialization.
It was not easy for her; however, Hanadi’s perseverance and her mother’s determination to read the textbooks for her helped Hanadi to obtain high marks until she graduated last year in 2017. After that, she has started her quest for professional experiences and a job to continue the path that she has decided to pursue.
Hanadi knew about “We Work” Project and she registered at one of the training courses related to work skills at non-governmental organizations in Gaza. Subsequently, her name was chosen among those young women who met the specific criteria of the Project’s training. Twelve (12) girls with disabilities were granted a paid opportunity for 3 months to work at civil society organizations after being acquired the necessary work and managerial skills, in addition to communication skills.
Hanadi says “Upon being accepted in the Project, I received a group of trainings provided me with lots of information and they were a significant reason in developing my academic and knowledge abilities related to work requirements and environment. Then, I was selected to work at Life and Hope Association as a Social Worker within the Project; I was also working as a coordinator for children’s and school students’ activities.”
Hanadi rejects the negative thoughts that the society members have about people with disabilities (PWDs) generally and young women particularly concerning their capacity to work and their need for it. She says “Lots of people say that PWDs, especially women, cannot work due to their fragile capabilities. Nonetheless, I say to them that it is our right to work as people with disabilities, specifically women, since it enables us to prove and establish ourselves; we are not a burden on the community.”
“Work has added many new things to my life. For instance, it has made me a person who can assume more responsibilities; a person who can prove her existence among the people” Hanadi describing her benefits from the Project.
“We Work” was not a normal project for Hanadi and other women beneficiaries with disabilities; it has given them the hope to believe in their skills and work to boost them. The Project has developed their academic and practical abilities, in addition to empowering them to build new relations and contributing to change the community stigma towards their capabilities, mainly as young women with disabilities, at work and production. Furthermore, it has developed their personal capabilities and strengthened their self-esteem, besides providing this targeted group with a source of income helps them to satisfy their daily basic needs.
“We Work” Project is one of the projects implemented by Social Developmental Forum (SDF) within Socio-Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Program; it was implemented in partnership with EducAid and a group of local institutions. The Project aims to empower women with disabilities (WWDs) socially and economically through raising their awareness of their rights, building their professional capacities and improving their employment and training opportunities via their involvement at the labor market.