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Chinese-backed Program Empowers Women In Mogadishu

Storyline:National News

The over two decades conflict in Somalia has deprived many women of their husbands and economic lifelines, making them vulnerable as they were left behind to fend for their children and take a position in building their country.

But the quest to empower women with practical skills and entrepreneurship is gradually making a difference in the war-torn country. The Somali National Women Organization (SNWO) in Mogadishu has attracted 100 women from various parts of the city to learn tailoring skills.

Thanks to a donation from the Chinese Embassy in Somalia in June, the organization is now helping women gain knowledge and skills on sewing with an ultimate goal to enable them start their own businesses.

“We teach them to use the sewing machine and train them on how they can later set up their small scale businesses upon which they are able to support their families,” Anab Hassan Elmi, SNWO Deputy Director told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Elmi believes this would make a big change in lives of the most vulnerable Somali women. “We register women mainly from internally displaced people’s camp, those who are divorced and widows.

This is one of the most vulnerable groups in the society; tasked with having to raise children on their own. But this training is going to empower them, to let them earn some income and support their families,” said Elmi.