Day 19

One hour of computer or English course for a woman in Libya

Learning for a better life Learning for a better life

Empowering women and girls in civil war-torn Libya

Some dreams come true late. Like the dream of Nadine from Tripoli. As a child, she loved going to school, and she especially liked math. She dreamed of becoming a lawyer and working for disadvantaged people. But things turned out differently. At the age of 13, Nadine got married, had her first child and had to drop out of school. But she raised her daughters to be successful, self-confident women. When the revolution changed Libya in 2011, Nadine's time had come. In the capital, she opened centers where disadvantaged women and women threatened by violence can find security, advice and support. Nadine is particularly interested in the continuing education opportunities: free English and computer courses. "Education is the key to a self-determined life," she knows. Today she is 65 years old. She did not become a lawyer, but she has made her childhood dream of helping the weak and the disenfranchised come true through perseverance and courage.

need

Educational opportunities for socially disadvantaged women and girls in Libya.

activity

The partners of AMICA eV offer free English and computer courses for women and girls in their counseling centers.

Measurable performance

Number of girls and women who take an English or computer course and complete it with a certificate.

Result

Disadvantaged women and girls in Libya have greater self-confidence and are more stable in their everyday lives and in their professional situation.

Systemically relevant impact

Women have a stronger position in Libyan society. Awareness about gender-based violence is beginning to change.

background

Since the revolution of 2011, Libya has been undergoing a process of transformation, which culminated in a civil war in May 2014 due to renewed violence. Currently, around 1 million people are affected by the fighting, and 1.3 million people are dependent on humanitarian aid (Ocha, 2016).

The war situation has led to a massive increase in violence in everyday life. According to the UNDP, 89% of Libyan families are affected. The situation is particularly serious for those who have had to flee their homes. The majority of refugees are concentrated in the major cities of Benghazi and Tripoli. Families live in very cramped conditions in emergency accommodation such as schools and factory buildings, with hardly any places to retreat and no protective measures.

Violence against women and girls is an absolute taboo subject in Libya. There is almost no help from the state. The two partner organizations of AMICA eV are therefore doing pioneering work. They operate the first SOS telephone for women, seek out displaced families and women in prisons, employ therapists, social workers and lawyers and are running a campaign to prevent young men from taking up arms and joining the militias.

The good deed

By taking part in English or computer classes, women and girls get to know the counseling centers and the staff. This basis of trust is important so that they can take advantage of the support of social workers, therapists and lawyers when they need it. The services stabilize them in their everyday lives and strengthen their self-confidence. "I feel like I can fly. Now I have hope again," said a visitor from Benghazi, describing her feelings. The courses are certified by the Libyan Ministry of Education. By taking part, the women improve their career options and increase their chances of getting a job with a local company, a government institution or a non-governmental organization.