Amani is a single mother from Idlib, northwest Syria. She fled the war in her country and came to Hatay, Turkey’s southernmost province, with her 4 sons. “I wanted my children to be safe,” she says.
For 2 years, she struggled to find a job. She felt alone. “There were moments when I broke into tears or burst out with anger,” she said. “I did not know what was wrong with me. Each time I had breathing problems, doctors could not do anything because they said it was psychological.”
When Amani started working, she was afraid of prejudices, but soon discovered a different reality. “Turkish people opened their hearts to me and supported me in every way. They stood by me. I cannot forget that.”
Amani’s coworkers signed her up for Turkish classes and even tried to learn Arabic to support her. She felt safe and started to change. She went out more often and no longer felt sick, especially when her mother joined her in 2019.
When the coronavirus pandemic hit Turkey in early 2020, the good times ended. Amani lost her job. Her sons and elderly mother had to stay home because of the curfew, introduced to protect children and the elderly in Turkey.
“I had to bear the whole responsibility without having anyone to talk to. I went back to the point where I felt trapped and sick,” Amani says. “I was suffocating.”
The day Amani started attending online sessions marked a turning point in her life. “There were other people in the same circumstances. That made me realise that I wasn’t alone.” The sessions Amani participated in are tailored to the needs of refugees in Turkey. These sessions are organised by the Danish Refugees Council (DRC) with support from EU humanitarian aid.
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The stress management sessions became a part of Amani’s life. Her relationship with her sons improved, and she invited her mother to join the sessions.
Now, Amani is planning to sign up for vocational trainings to learn new skills and increase her chances to find a job. “Those sessions have opened a window for me,” she says. “They have given me space to breathe and let go of my worries. I am working hard to get a new job, knowing that I am never alone.”
