Supporting Syrian Women to Have Access to Technology

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Location: Syria

Summary

Need and Background 

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic. The world is facing an unprecedented time as COVID-19 affects all countries regardless of race, gender, religious, or socio-economic standing.  While much of life has been placed on a mandatory ‘time-out’ the need for a coordinated and united response to the corona virus has increased exponentially.

Many Syrian women face roadblocks to participate in society in a meaningful and impactful way and with the impact of COVID-19, having limited or no access to technology exacerbates the isolation and further impacts women’s labor force participation negatively. Digital literacy has been proven as a factor that improves women’s access to employment opportunities where providing useful and applied skills can build confidence and create more opportunities for women. 

CCSD is launching this program as an initiative and plans to expand this effort in order to create a platform for a concerted effort towards closing gender gaps in digital literacy as the world moves faster and faster towards online communication. Technology and social media can be powerful tools for women to engage in democracy, civic action and peacebuilding, as well as to fight for their basic rights and gender equality in the workforce. Adapting programming and investing in digital literacy for women and girls is key to ensuring that they can meaningfully participate in these newly opened public spheres.

The goal of CCSD, with the seed funding from Rockflower, is to provide 100 Syrian women with equipment, and 250 Syrian women with technical skills by the end of 2020. 

Planned Activities

Activity #1: Identification of 4 Syrian women who have technology and leadership skills and can share these skills with other Syrian women. 

Activity #2: Selection of 10 Syrian women through CCSD’s existing network in Turkey to participate in project

Activity #3: Needs Assessment completed for each participant

Activity #4: Mentorship program – Each Syrian woman participant will receive 12, 2 hour sessions to improve their technical skills

Activity #5: Post Test Evaluation

Project Goal

To empower Syrian women and increase their knowledge in technical skills in order to support their ability to have better access to jobs, education, leadership and overall engagement in society.

Project Objective

  • Introduce and build the capacity of Syrian women in technology;

  • Build the self-esteem and confidence in Syrian women to improve leadership capacities;

  • To secure the involvement of Syrian women in society including civil society, drawing upon their expertise and technical knowledge through computer literacy and education;

  • To decrease the gender gap for access to technology for Syrian women;

Expected Results

  • 10 Syrian women are knowledgeable in how to use technology;

  • 10 Syrian women have a higher self-esteem and capacity to improve their leadership skills; 

  • 10 Syrian are better equipped for job searching and in the work setting. 

Project Partner:

Center for Civil Society and Democracy

 

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