Classes for erasing despair

“Many women are unable to overcome the crisis imposed by the situation in the country because they lack the minimum skills.” Haifa Ali

The mother’s tears were flowing as she complained to Haifa, the school principal, her financial situation, which had deteriorated after the war forcing her to take her son out of school. Haifa offered her work to help her family but the mother told her she had neither a certificate nor the skills needed to do any job. Haifa admitted the woman’s son as one of 25 students studying free of charge in her school. After this, she decided to open literacy and handicraft classes to help housewives acquire skills that would help them in their careers.

Haifa grew up in a conservative family in which girls do not usually complete their education. But her aunt stood with her during all stages of her education until she graduated from the university’s department of sociology and began working as a social worker. Through her work she witnessed difficult cases in the community that she was not familiar with, and these experiences helped bring her closer to the suffering of others.

Years later, she decided to establish a private school, which continued to work until the war started, when the salaries of the staff were stopped and many of the parents withdrew their children from school.

Haifa decided to use the evening period to open free classes at her school and to hold courses in literacy, sewing, engraving, recycling, handicrafts, secretarial skills, antiques and making gifts. She hired volunteer instructors, and others, whose wages were paid from donations.