29-04-2025 | di COOPI

Syria. Rebuilding peace through the voices of women

After years of displacement and hardship in refugee camps, the women of Oweijel, in Atareb, Aleppo, Syria, returned to their homes following the area’s liberation in December 2024 but the homecoming was not without challenges. Political tensions and lingering personal grievances sparked friction between returnees and the host community. In response, COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale’s Protection Team launched a peacebuilding initiative through the project “Mitigate the impact of winter conditions and foster early recovery in underserved areas through ERL, FSA and Protection interventions in Aleppo and Dar'a”, funded by OCHA’s Syria Humanitarian Fund. The initiative offered a safe and supportive space where women could gather, share their experiences and begin to rebuild these fractured relationships.

From January 22 to February 2, 2025, four interactive pilot sessions were held at the Oweijel Center Access Point, led by a psychological specialist and a case manager. Targeting women between the ages of 18 and 50, the sessions aimed to empower them to express themselves, foster understanding, strengthen interpersonal skills and cultivate social and personal resilience—tools essential for resolving conflicts both within and beyond the walls of the community center and fostering cohesion in the community. The impact was immediate and heartfelt.

We returned to our homes after long suffering in the camps, and these sessions gave me new hope."

shared Fadila, one of the participants.

Through open dialogue, the women discovered shared stories of loss and perseverance and what began as cautious conversation soon transformed into solidarity and mutual support.

I thought I was alone, and nobody understood what we went through. These sessions are an opportunity to solve our problems."

said Maryam.

Despite ongoing obstacles—household duties, home repairs and disruptions from new arrivals—the group found strength in unity.

After years of separation and displacement, these sessions made us embrace and support each other to overcome the difficulties."

Qamar explained.

This pilot phase did more than ease current tensions—it planted the seeds for lasting peace. Encouraged by its success, COOPI’s team developed academic materials to replicate the initiative and plans are already in motion with coordination teams in Damascus to adapt the content into a wider professional peacebuilding curriculum. Looking ahead, COOPI aims to expand the number of sessions and reach more women across rural areas where the organization is active. By working closely with local authorities, COOPI will continue to provide not only emotional support, but also financial aid for living costs and home repairs, along with vocational and personal development training to promote economic empowerment. The women of Oweijel are no longer just survivors—they are community leaders, peace advocates and the heart of a hopeful future.

Since 2016, COOPI has been operating in Syria, primarily in rural areas like Aleppo, where it initially focused on protection interventions and projects aimed at strengthening food security, agricultural production and early recovery. Today, in close coordination with local authorities and national and international organizations, COOPI implements emergency programs across several sectors—including Food Security and Agriculture, Early Recovery, Education and Protection—supporting vulnerable populations such as women-headed households, children, people with disabilities and the elderly.