Shekhan,Nineveh, Iraq. March 2017. Tawaf is a beneficary of IRC / UNwomen program that gives up to 1000 USD small business start up grants after a 9 day small business training program in which applicants must succefully form a business plan. She used her grant money to start up a chicken farm which is the sole source of income for her and her husband.
Tawaf is Yazidi and comes from Sinjar, where she tried to flee once ISIS arrived. She and her son were kidnapped. After 8 month she escaped but her son is still missing.
Apart from learning business skills and getting start up capital, she also appreciated the programme for getting her out of the house and introducing her to other women.
Full Transcript of interview
10 My name is tawaf, I am 49 yrs old. I am from Tel banat . 22 - Two years in Shekhan (not said) 40 - My life in Sinjar was good, my husband was in Sulaymanya working for an oil company. 47. Our situation was getting better and better but they did not let it (isis) 52 So we left home, they kidnapped me and my son. 1:00 My husband was alone 8 months. 1:08 Then I joined him after I escaped. gee ez hatim em gihshtana yak 1:09 We were in Sulaymanya. 112 - We stayed there 2 month and then we came here. This was an unfinished building for somepeople. we made the roof, and we stayed here. 119. The project they give it to me 9 days I went to the training. They wrote my name, I was succesful. 132 and we using this work. 134 Our situation got better but our son is still kidnapped. If he was not kidnapped we would be good, but as long as he is kidnapped we are not good. 144 155 I used to have the same job at home, I had animals. We were shepherds. I knew how to feed them, how to give them water. 216 If the chickens were egg layers that would be much better, but now also if fine. 224 Each time we feed them , give them water, care for them. 241 thats it 244 254 The money we get from selling the chickens we buy more chickens, we buy food and medicine for the chicken. 3:10 315 The benefit is...., I dont know what to say, cause we are homeless we are displaced. But when we need something for our house we buy it. 332 343I am visiting my family and sometimes if my firends are asking to visit some of the holy places I just sit in the grass and dont go anywhere else. 404
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18 All my friends were from Bashiqa. 23 I couldn't understand from their lanquage but they were very nice and very respectful. 35 It was so good. 37 39 My teachers were good, My friends were good 48 our driver was good, everyday tehy were picking us from home and bringing us back. 50 They gave us food and drink We were staying 2 hrs and coming back 100 they were so good 103 118 But doing the 9 days , my husband was alone and not eating till I came home, i was cooking for me and him. 130 housekeeping 140 147 in the training I was the only one focusing on livestock, the other sewing, and other things. The teachers were finishing with them and the exzpalining to me. 201 He explained to me the steps how to run a business. 210 they were so good. 214
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23 I used to do this job before we had sheep as well but chicken are better. 37 husband interups tell them about animals in sinjar 50 That is why I choose this part of the project because I have experience , its better for me than tailoring. 104 107 because I have experience and I could make clothes, because I used to have a sewing machine at home, but people wont buy clothes here, they shop at the mall for ready made clothes. 122 even if there was a tailoring job it would not earn as much 130 149 I dont know what to say. If our son wasnt kidnapped we would be so happy with our situation. 200 our job is good and its benefical (useful) and what else? 210 216 i dont know what to say, I am good with this work, each time I benfit 40,000, 50000, 100000 dinar, Its good. 243 what else u want me to say
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45 If I did not take this training I would not be able to start a business cause I we have no money. 54 thanks 58 they give us money, we bought animals and we benefit from this 106 114 There is a big difference
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before I got this training I did not have money or anything because I did not have enough money to start a business. 13 There was no job. They wrote my name in this project. I got support and i started this job. 26 From the beginning and now there is a difference. Each time we get chicken if we get like 100 000 we are happy with that 35 So now it better than before, cause before this job we had nthing 43 and my husband he can not work, cause there are not job offers.45 he has no money 48 So step by step we are moving on.54 by this project. 59 119 people around me were so good, my teachers were good and very respectful 129, my friends as well. 132 thanks for them they give us money to open this project 136 we were successful, it was soo good. 143 155 I did not see anyone, I was not going anywhere 157, I was always at home 159. After I have been to this training , there were 10 12 women that I got to know 205 each time there was like a break we were sitting and talking together but I could not completely understand their language. 215
