In Ukraine, Maryna worked as a dairy farmer, but after resettling in Poland, she had to rethink the type of work she could do. Then, she discovered tram driving.
I'd rather regret the things that I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done. I felt it was the place I belonged to. I liked the work, and I believed in myself. When we were asked what we used to do before the war and what we do now, a lot of people wanted to continue working in the same field, but I wanted to change everything completely.
Learn moreAll you need is to start, to take action. If you keep staying at home and feeling afraid, then what? If we teach children to keep learning something new, then we should also set an example. Don't be afraid! I'm happy and proud of myselfMarynaThe IRC supported intergration and support center in Katowice, Poland
Amna Gul is a provincial health manager with the IRC who also knows firsthand the hardship of being a woman in Afghanistan. She decided at a young age to become a doctor.
My mother struggled to find the right health services as a young girl, or when she was pregnant, so when I was growing up, she always encouraged me to become a doctor to support other women in need. I didn't join the mobile health team, but I personally found the mobile health team.
Learn moreWhen our seniors said to me that we are going to make a mobile health team that is completely composed of women, will it be possible and will I be able to make it? Then I said yes, it is possible—if we want to do something, then it is easy to do something. That was the time that we took the step, announced the positions and hired the female doctors. Now, they are serving the people, especially girls and women in need.Amna GulIRC female mobile health team
After Rahma had to drop out of school due to Covid-19, she decided to train as a welder. But finding a work placement as a woman proved to be especially challenging.
"I told the guy I'm here for welding and he said 'you cannot do this job.' I said yes, if you can learn that means that I will also learn! So, the guy gave me the opportunity and said: ‘if you can compete with the guys, then you can stay here and work.’ So, I had to compete with them and I'm still here, not giving up.”
Learn moreThis work is for both men and women, young girls and young boys. If I told you know what you want, you can achieve. What I can tell them never undermine that job, whether it's welding, building or automotive. Just engage yourself in as long as you can get money, you can achieve what you want. Because every girl has their own goals.RahmaThe IRC and IKEA Foundation's Re:BUiLD program
17-year-old Samira and her family left Afghanistan in 2017 because she and her sisters could no longer attend school. After arriving in the United States in May of 2023, Samira plans to graduate school and become a karate instructor.
"I was born in the country's capital city of Kabul and studied up to 4th grade in Afghanistan. Despite our high expectations, we were unable to achieve them there in reality, and we were even unable to attend school."
"When I practice karate, I feel incredibly pleased and I really enjoy it, and I want to become a karate instructor so that I may pass this skill on to others."
"When I practice karate, I feel incredibly pleased and I really enjoy it, and I want to become a karate instructor so that I may pass this skill on to others."
Learn moreI believe that being from a family that lets its members pursue whatever they want makes me very fortunate. In fact, in Afghanistan girls are not allowed to do lots of things. Our family is very good. I want to encourage all women and girls who love karate to follow their dreams and never be afraid of anythingSamiraBlack belt holder and Afghan refugee
