Sarah learns new skills reviving dream of becoming a hairdresser and own a salon in Syria

Syria has endured relentless hardships for the past 14 years, grappling with insecurity, indiscriminate attacks, a lack of basic services, instability, and ongoing hostilities. Amidst this turmoil, Sarah*, an internally displaced Syrian, navigated her path, clinging to hope and the prospect of a better future.

Before the escalation in December 2024, Sarah had spent a decade fleeing the conflict in Aleppo. She eventually found herself in a displacement camp in northwest Syria, alongside seven million other families. 

They were all in the same situation, with 80 per cent struggling to secure food, facing high unemployment rates, and enduring inhospitable living conditions.

A mother of three, Sarah fought daily to support her family alongside her husband, who did everything he could to find work but faced significant unemployment challenges. Despite her struggles, an old dream resurfaced. Sarah had always wanted to become a hairdresser and own a salon. 

However, she had long buried this aspiration under the weight of conflict and displacement. That was until she learned about World Vision Syria Response’s protection project. With funding from Irish Aid and implemented through its local partner Shafak, the project was launched in December 2023 and will continue until December 2027. 

It aims to empower women financially and socially through literacy training, financial education, the creation of support groups and small businesses, and vocational training to support women’s income generation. 

Inspired by the project’s mission, Sarah enrolled in the hairdressing training, determined to turn her dream into reality.

The centre became more than just a training space—it was her lifeline. Through psychological support and life skills sessions provided by the project, Sarah found a community of women who understood her struggles, as well as trained mentors who encouraged her to keep moving forward. 

These sessions taught her not only professional hairdressing skills but also vital personal skills such as communication, time management, and future planning. Slowly, she began to heal and regain confidence.

The impact of the centre extended beyond Sarah. Her two children, initially withdrawn and struggling to adapt to camp life, flourished in the centre’s child-friendly spaces, where they received psychosocial support and engaged in activities that helped them make friends and feel safe. 

Her husband also benefited from the centre’s awareness sessions, which equipped him with tools to better support his family. Together, they began to rebuild their lives with newfound strength and unity.

While Sarah and her family work towards reclaiming their dreams, the situation in Syria remains volatile. People continue to hope for a more stable future, yet they face a severe lack of basic services, employment opportunities, education, and infrastructure, alongside rising malnutrition rates.

Over the past year, World Vision Syria Response has reached 11 million people, providing 566,472 of them—including Sarah and her children—with life-saving protection services. The organisation emphasizes the critical importance of equipping Syrians like Sarah with the necessary tools to live dignified and sustainable lives.

*Name has been changed to protect her identity.

Story and photos by Communications Officer Rand Ishaqat