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Dar al-Yasmin (DAY)

Title of Project: Entrepreneurship in Zaatari Village for Jordanian-Syrian Reconciliation

Project Dates: May 24 – June 5, 2015

Location: Mafraq, Jordan
 
Since the onset of the Syrian civil war 2011, Jordan has welcomed more than 600,000 refugees into its borders. Around 120,000 of the refugees are housed in the Zaatari refugee camp, the second largest refugee camp located in Mafraq, 100km north of Amman. 
 
Looking for a way in which to provide economic opportunity to the women of Zataari Village and promote dialogue and reconciliation between Jordanian and Syrian refugees, we have partnered with Dar Al Yasmin to:  
 
  • Work with Dar al Yasmin to organize workshops in Zataari village to introduce 10 Jordanian and 10 Syrian women to concepts of entrepreneurship and cross-community partnership, bringing in experts and promoting dialogue on the subject. 
  • Provide materials and training (skills-based and entrepreneurship workshops) tovillage women to sew tote bags for fair trade sale locally and internationally to promote awareness of the refugee crisis and provide the women with new sources of income.
  • Bring together 100 children from both communities in engaging workshops to create peace-promoting designs and drawings for reproduction on the bags. 
  • Market and sell tote bags internationally to product a profit which will return to serve the communitythrough the partner organization. 
Our goals for the project are:  
 
  • Address the root cause of the tensions between the host communities and the refugees which is the selective provision of short-term aid to Syrians by promoting independence and empowerment of women through social entrepreneurship, skill building, and collaboration between members of the refugee and the host community.
  • Offering education and entertainment to Jordanian and Syrian children aimed at building inter-community relationships and fostering greater acceptance and peace in the society.
  • Creating a sustainable social enterprise producing tote bags that would encourage independence of women, offer opportunities for economic empowerment to both Syrians and Jordanians, easing economic tensions.
  • Encouraging inter-community reconciliation through providing means of economic empowerment and forums for dialogue.
  • Educating the local and international audience about the complexity of the situation through educational events at Columbia that promote awareness and the experiences of the team in Jordan.
  •  Connect conscious consumers in the United States and other western countries to products that create social impact and raise awareness about the refugee crisis and the situation in Zaatari village.

Team Members: 
Nadine Fattaleh - Leader (CC)
Anne-Laure White (CC)
Phil Burnett (CC)
Elana Sulakshana (CC)
Yazan Nagi (CC)
 
For more information visit DAY's website

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