Damascus, March 17 (SANA) Since the very beginning of the Syrian revolution, women were not mere witnesses; they carried multiple roles across humanitarian, political, and social spheres. Syrian women took to the streets, led demonstrations, documented violations, and conveyed the revolution’s voice to the world, defying both fear and societal and security restrictions.
Continuing Education Despite Bombing
Even under the siege and bombardment of Eastern Ghouta near Damascus during the years of the revolution, women exemplified determination and resilience. Teachers in Douma, for instance, continued their work despite damaged school buildings, setting up classrooms in basements so students could continue their education and maintain a sense of normalcy.
Teacher Manar Fawaz recalled: “School began at five in the morning after dawn prayer, and we ended classes before nine to protect students from the deposed regime airstrikes during the day. Despite the hardships, we continued our duty to the next generation, keeping hope alive for the future.”
Their role went beyond academics. Women also nurtured children in principles of freedom and dignity, helped ease the psychological impact of war, and developed alternative curricula aligned with the realities and goals of the revolution.
Women as First Responders in the Siege
Alaa Hamouria from the town of Arbin near Damascus exemplified women’s role in emergency response. Using her nursing background, she worked at the “Rahma Center” with colleagues, providing first aid to those injured during deposed regime airstrikes. They filled gaps in medical staffing, as transferring patients to government hospitals was often too dangerous.
Hamouria explained that their work extended to homes, treating severe injuries with limited supplies. They improvised medical tools—sterilizing sheets to make bandages and using containers as surgical drainage—to save lives under extreme conditions.
Resilience in the Face of Loss
Syrian women shattered traditional stereotypes, risking their lives to rescue others through direct work with the Syrian Civil Defense, including search-and-rescue and emergency medical teams.
Wedad Wehha, displaced from Ghouta to northern Syria, joined the Civil Defense in 2017. She faced dual challenges: direct threat from bombardment and the difficulties of fieldwork, while coping with the personal loss of her father in a regime bombing. The death of her husband, father, and witnessing chemical attacks motivated her to continue her work until the revolution succeeded.
Today, Wedad continues her work with the Civil Defense, focusing on campaigns to raise awareness about war remnants and humanitarian activities to bring smiles to children’s faces.
Civic Engagement and Community Support
Civil society activist Safaa Kamel from Jobar in Damascus began her journey after her husband was killed in a regime detention center, leaving her with an infant. She started by documenting families and orphans and, as more women lost husbands, her work expanded to supporting them and caring for the children of martyrs. She later helped establish a women’s network of 88 members to provide mutual support and tackle challenges collectively.
The revolution reshaped Syrian society, creating space for freedom and dignity. Women emerged in diverse fields—from education and medical aid to civic organization—becoming indispensable contributors to the Syrian story of resilience and endurance.
M.Q.R
