Sara is a 30-year-old participant in our Earth Sisters project, who lives with her parents in Duhok city. After graduating from the University of Duhok’s Agriculture College in 2018, she worked in a number of different roles and says: “From childhood I was an active girl with big dreams, and my ambition was having my own business. My family’s support helped grow my self-esteem, and enabled me to start my business as a clothes designer in 2021.”
As Sara was also keen to improve her technical and life skills, earlier this year she signed up for our Earth Sisters project, in partnership with the German Federal Foreign Office in Erbil. “I had no idea about how climate change increases gender-based violence, and this was very interesting for me to know,” she adds. “The climate crisis is making people’s lives very difficult – especially those who are economically dependent on agriculture, as the affected areas are suffering badly from drought.”
Along with her fellow Earth Sisters, Sara learned how climate change is linked to domestic and economic violence, as well as early marriage and many psychological issues. “After the training, I realised how serious this crisis is, and how it affects almost all families.”
Sara has accordingly decided to study for a Master’s in Climate Change, and says: “I am very excited to start my degree. I chose this topic in order to have a more active role in my community – by conducting campaigns and publishing awareness materials through short videos on social media, and to share knowledge of the interrelation between GBV and climate change.”
Believing that all women and girls can be accountable in response to the climate crisis, Sara continues: “I feel a responsibility to deliver this message and explain to my family how each individual can bring change. So I always request them to follow steps in our daily routine – like switching off lights when not needed, and not to waste water. I give these messages to my neighbours and relatives too, so they can be aware about the effects of climate change in the long term.”
In the coming weeks, Sara hopes to join the other Earth Sisters to deliver a range of community initiatives that will focus on climate change awareness and changing social behaviours.
We’re so glad she is finding this important project so informative and helpful…
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