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Syrian pharmacist opens new chapter in life in Turkey

Syrian pharmacist Vefa Heyrullah, familiar with hardship in Syria, establishes a new life for her family in Hatay, Turkey, by opening a textile factory that employs Syrian women

Ersin Çelik
12:12 - 26/12/2016 Monday
Update: 12:14 - 26/12/2016 Monday
Yeni Şafak

After being uprooted from her country due to the devastating Syrian civil war, Vefa Heyrullah, a woman who survived her daughter's death during the war, has built a new life not only for herself, but for her family and other Syrian women in Hatay, Turkey.



The Heyrullah family, displaced from their home in Syria four years ago, moved to Reyhanlı, Hatay, near Turkey's border with Syria. Vefa Heyrullah, 60 years old, is a mother of two daughters and two sons. One of her sons is studying in Turkey, while the other is carrying out humanitarian aid in the Syrian town of Idlib. She survived her one daughter's death, when she was martyred in the Syrian civil war, while the other was one of the civilians trapped in besieged Aleppo. She was recently evacuated from Aleppo to Idlib as a result of Turkey's diplomatic efforts.



Pharmacist opens a textile factory


The Heyrullah family faced great struggles when they first moved to Turkey.



“I'm a pharmacist who has completed her higher education. We lost our jobs because of the war. When I came to Turkey, I thought long and hard about what I could do,” said Vefa, reminiscing on how she came up with her idea to open a textile factory.



“There was a program by the Kuwait government supporting Syrians in opening a workplace. I presented my Project, and it was accepted. That's how I purchased the equipment at my textile factory,” she explained.



The factory is a place of opportunity


Vefa's textile factory is an employment opportunity for 43 women.



“I hired a teacher and taught the Syrian women in Reyhanlı needlecraft. Then we employed those women. Over time, we grew, and now we provide 43 women with a chance to earn their living. We also have one male employee, who takes care of deliveries and any driving,” said Vefa.



Supporting a good cause


Many philanthropists place orders with the factory in order to distribute the products among those in need.



“Businessmen from Turkey, Kuwait, Qatar and Syria get in touch with us and, for example, order 5,000 jackets. When the order is ready, they tell us to distribute the goods to those who are in need,” Vefa remarked.







#Syria
#Aleppo
#Idlib
7 years ago