NEXEM KARACA

Gaza- The Society of Women Graduates in Gaza Strip (SWG) was founded in 1974 to empower female graduates through capacity building development programs, skill rehabilitation, education, awareness-raising, job placement and advocacy for their rights by creating local, regional and international partnerships. The SWG continues to carry out local and international activities to support and encourage women.

“One of the most important aims of the SWG is to empower female graduates since its foundation. Empowering a female graduate means empowering a family,” Wedad Sourani told us.

Wedad Sourani stated that the SWG will help women to overcome all obstacles in 2022 and develop projects for women to support their education. She also gave us information about their activities in 2021 as follows:

“We carried out a project with the Central Election Committee and the European Union to increase the active participation of women in the democratic process and we launched a campaign called, “Women deserve”. We also carried out a project with the support of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation to support women filmmakers. The films made by women were screened.”

They face financial problems

Stating that they have carried out activities and campaigns with many national and international women’s organizations, Wedad Sourani said that they use social media effectively and that they try to do their best to strengthen networks and keep women up with the era of communication. Speaking about the difficulties they have faced as an organization, Wedad Sourani said, “We have faced financial problems. We have also been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, we had difficulties in raising funds to organize educational activities.”

“We will continue to support women”

Stating that they want to empower more female graduates in 2022, Wedad Sourani said, “We will continue to reach more female graduates, organize educational activities and courses for them and support them.”