Hadja: Stitching a New Life, One Point at a Time

She fled armed group attacks to protect her children. Today, in Meri, Hadja is learning to sew and reclaim her place in the community. Her journey illustrates how, thanks to the support of the European Union and the commitment of UNICEF and its partners, vocational training becomes a path to resilience and hope.

For a long time, Hadja stayed at home in Meri. Days passed without activity, weighed down by a past marked by armed group attacks. She had fled with her children, leaving her hometown behind to seek refuge far from violence. “She doesn’t want war anymore,” she says simply. She wants peace, for herself, for her children, and for the future.

Today, Hadja has returned to learning. For several weeks now, she has been attending a sewing and dressmaking course at the Multifunctional Youth Promotion Center (CMPJ) in Meri. In this lively workshop, where the steady hum of sewing machines fills the air, she learns to handle fabric, trace, cut, and assemble. New gestures, carrying a promise: to regain an occupation, dignity, and a place within the community.

This training is part of a reintegration and social cohesion project funded by the European Union and implemented by UNICEF and IOM, in partnership with local actors. The project supports the center’s operations by strengthening its capacity, notably through the provision of machines and materials, enabling it to welcome and train more women. “Before, we had few machines. Today, this support has really boosted the center’s ability to train and integrate young people and women,” explains a CMPJ official.

In the sewing workshop, Hadja is part of a group of women from different backgrounds, some formerly associated with armed groups, others displaced by violence. They come every day, some in the morning, others in the afternoon, sharing machines and learning together. What motivated Hadja to enroll was not just the trade, but the idea of belonging to a group. “We want to have a team that will support us,” she says. Working together helps her break isolation and rebuild trust.

The training, which will continue until March, includes the awarding of certificates and, where possible, material support to promote women’s autonomy after the program. The goal is clear: to enable them to earn an income, support their families, and become firmly rooted in the community. “Training, having a trade, that’s the dream of many of these women,” says the center’s manager. “Giving someone the ability to get back on their feet in life, that’s a source of pride.”

In Meri, challenges remain numerous. But enthusiasm is strong. Women are diligent, motivated, and supported by their families. Sewing becomes a discreet yet powerful lever: a way to transform time, material, and gradually, life trajectories.

In a region scarred by years of conflict, the European Union’s investment in vocational training and women’s empowerment helps strengthen community resilience and prevent the recurrence of violence. By offering practical skills and a structured environment, the project helps women become actors in shaping their own future.

For Hadja, learning to sew is more than a trade. It’s a way to turn the page without tearing it, to rebuild without forgetting, and to imagine a future where her children grow up far from war.

In Meri, thanks to the support of the European Union and the commitment of UNICEF, IOM, and their partners, women like Hadja are no longer just survivors. They are becoming artisans of peace, patiently stitching together the fragile threads of coexistence and hope.