"When spring comes, we will be lucky enough to have at least six new lambs," says Sanam happily, gently patting one of the sheep on the back. When the single mother returned to her home town five years ago, she was left with nothing. Today she is a successful small business owner and makes the most popular ghee (clarified butter) in town.
Selected as one of 160 families
Sanam is Yazidi and lives with daughter Dilbreen and son Sorgol near the city of Sinjar in northern Iraq. The small family owns a total of 22 sheep and five goats. The family is able to make a living from the sale of the milk and the self-produced yoghurt. Sanam started with almost two dozen animals, some food and building material for a fence.
As one of 160 families, she was selected by our alliance organization ASB. Above all, the helpers wanted to help widows and people with disabilities with their program in Sinjar to be able to build a self-determined life after their return.
With 15 refugees in one tent
When the Islamic State (IS) attacked the city of Sinjar on the night of August 3, 2014, Sanam and her children had no choice but to flee: they left their house and their livestock behind. Her husband and her brother's sons were killed by IS. The family found shelter in Sardashte, where they stayed in a refugee camp.
They had to share a tent with another 15 refugees for three years. A return was not considered until 2017, when the Kurdish forces had liberated Sinjar from IS. But the once deserted hometown was hardly recognizable on arrival: "Almost all the houses had been destroyed or burned, the streets were devastated and the animals were stolen," recalls Sanam.
The best ghee in Sinjar
For the past two years, the ASB, one of our alliance organizations, has been supporting Sanam in expanding her small livestock business. In addition to preserved animals and material, she was able to attend a training course where she learned important basics about starting small businesses, animal husbandry and bookkeeping. Today, Sanam's products are very popular.
Her neighbor Nawaf, who sells agricultural products from the region in a small shop, is enthusiastic about her goods. "Sanam makes the best ghee in Sinjar," he says.
Sanam looks to the future with hope
"I'm very grateful that the ASB and Aktion Deutschland Hilft gives me this opportunity. Finally I don't have to worry anymore that my children have to go to sleep with an empty stomach," says the young mother.
In the meantime, Sanam's business is doing so well that she can save a few things. At some point she would like to buy a piece of land and build a small house for herself and her children. "Although I miss my husband a lot, I look to the future with hope," says Sanam confidently today.
The ASB is part of the alliance Aktion Deutschland Hilft.
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