October 14, 2024
News
This year marks 10 years since the invasion of Iraq by the self-proclaimed Islamic State, which forced millions of Iraqis to flee their homes. The same fate met Iqbal, who fled from Karakosh to Erbil to escape ISIS. To support her big family, she began creating handmade products. Today, Iqbal makes a successful living as a seamstress who also takes orders from abroad. She also manages to do this thanks to Caritas Czech Republic.
She started sewing to support her family
47-year-old Iqbal is originally from Baghdad. But life circumstances forced her to move to Karakosh, a Christian city in northern Iraq. From there, she fled to Erbil with her family because of the invasion of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS). After the war, she decided to return to Karakosh. However, her house was completely destroyed as a result of the attacks.
Iqbal had to start from scratch. Her husband's income alone was not enough to support a family of seven. Iqbal therefore started creating handmade products and gaining experience by watching tutorials on the internet and attending various training courses.
When she heard about the business skills training that Caritas Czech Republic in Iraq was organising, she did not hesitate to join.
"The training helped me develop my skills and start focusing on my future as a seamstress," Iqbal praises. "I really enjoy sewing and I am happy that I can now support my family," she adds.
In addition to the training, Iqbal has also received a financial grant that has enabled her to take her business further.
The training has positively impacted her business
Before the training, Iqbal had to sew everything by hand. That is why she used the funds she received to buy a sewing machine, which allows her to do much more work and make sure the result is of good quality. She used to take half an hour to make one small part of a product, but now she can make three parts in the same amount of time. "I am very grateful to Caritas Czech Republic for helping me," says Iqbal.
Customers from foreign countires have also heard about her product
Today, Iqbal is a successful seamstress who also receives orders from foreign customers such as Australia, USA, Europe, Germany and France.
"I have found myself in my work. It teaches me how to be patient. Sewing takes a lot of time and every detail matters. Because if I leave out a detail, it will ruin not only the final product but also my reputation," says Iqbal about her work. "It makes me happy when my customers are happy," she adds.
Iqbal wants to help people with the same fate
Iqbal would like to help women from poorer families who do not have the proper conditions to start their own businesses like she used to.
"I know women who are very skilled in sewing. They just miss the expertise. I am in contact with these women and we plan to work together in my home. I see this as a great opportunity how to help each other," she says.
One traditional product takes Iqbal even a month of work. With the help of other women, it could be ready in as little as two weeks. This collaboration could not only support the women but also improve their livelihoods. Iqbal plans to turn this idea into a reality soon.
"There are many other people in Karakosh in Iraq, who do not have enough money to show the world what they can do," Iqbal says. "I think it is great how Caritas Czech Republic is supporting locals to find jobs or start their own businesses so they do not have to leave the region," says the seamstress.
Caritas Czech Republic in Iraq
We have been helping in Iraq since 2015, helping people like Iqbal get back on their feet through specialised training and financial grants so they can open their own businesses and support themselves and their families after the war. In addition to Iqbal, it was for example Saman who made his dream of owning his own bakery come true.
This project was made possible with the financial support of the Agenzia Italiana Per La Cooperazione allo Sviluppo (AICS)
