Self-confidence is key to growth and development

Many educated women in Iraq are constrained by the social norms of a patriarchal society that consigns them to life inside the home and out of the public sphere. Rather than being able to provide for their family with educational qualifications, these young, qualified women, lack the confidence to seek work that allows their skills and talents to be appreciated and more importantly, to be paid a decent wage for that skill.

Rojan Khalid Ibrahim is a 24-year-old single woman living in Duhok and benefitted from a university education, graduating from the University of Dohuk, Oil Department. When her father passed away, her mother was left with eight daughters and two sons to care for. The family’s financial wellbeing became the responsibility of Rojan, but her lack of confidence left her struggling to attain employment and support her family. “Being raised without a father in really difficult in our society,” she explained. “I wanted to show the world that women are strong and resilient.”

 Jinda Organization is a local NGO and a partner of UNWomen Iraq, working on Empowering Women in Conflict Prevention and Response Strategies. “When I saw the title of the project, I just wanted to be part of it,” Rojan said. “I saw this as an opportunity to improve myself and for people to see my true value. People would tell me I was weak because I grew up without a father and I wanted to prove them wrong.”

The patriarchal society means that men make the decisions, and it is not considered a female domain, this results in women not having the confidence to made decisions or problem solve when there are challenges in life. The workshop run by Jinda included sessions on problem solving. “I didn’t know how to deal with problems as they occurred and always tried to avoid being involved,” said Rojan. “Now, I look at problems, break them down into little pieces and I will always try to solve them. This course has provided me with the confidence to move ahead in my life. I have no issues in public speaking and

Now, I look at problems in a very different way and I try to solve them” Rojan added.

“After taking this course I am much more confident about myself, so much so that I have no problems to speak in public and prefer to deal with and solve my own problems.”