Yezidi Women Exhibit Perseverance in the Face of Ongoing Adversity
Khalida Haji is 26 year old Yezidi artisan working at FYF’s Enterprise and Training Center (ETC). She reflects on the difficulties and challenges she faced as a result of the Yezidi Genocide and how working at the ETC has given her the skills to heal and overcome her trauma:
“In 2014, the Yezidi Genocide drastically affected every Yezidi’s life in Sinjar, including ours. We fled our village, Tel Azeer, and settled in Khanke. Our living conditions aren’t good, as we struggle both psychologically and financially. It has been difficult to cope with our new life and the lack of calm and security we now face.
I couldn’t continue my school because of my age gap after the genocide, so I decided to join courses to gain more skills and enhance my knowledge. I joined knitting, sewing, and educational courses at FYF’s centers. I was grateful to then be chosen as an artisan at FYF’s ETC to work on creating the unique handmade product line, Chonky Animals.
I feel proud and empowered to be able to work and earn an income to support my family. In the past, many Yezidi women couldn’t work alongside men, but now we are confidently working and building a better life and future for ourselves.”
