International Women’s Day honors the strength and voice of women, while also reminding us of the challenges many still face. This year, we dedicate our tribute to the women we meet through the initiatives of SolidarityNow, women who, despite the difficulties, continue to claim their lives with strength and hope.

Within this context, initiatives that create spaces of safety and empowerment become especially important. The project “Female Forward – Together for Women’s Inclusion”, implemented by SolidarityNow, creates Female Friendly Spaces in three accommodation facilities for asylum seekers in Northern Greece. Through these spaces, vulnerable women are offered opportunities for skills development, creative expression, social connection, and inclusion.

In these Spaces, women from different countries come together, each carrying their own unique experiences. They share stories and build supportive bonds.

Two of them are I. and S.

I.’s story

I.is from Syria and has been in Greece for about a year. She lives at the Polykastro accommodation site for asylum seekers with her five minor children and is a single parent.

Every day, she carries the responsibility of raising and protecting her children. Her difficult experiences have left their mark, making her hesitant and cautious toward others. The safety and survival of her children are always her absolute priority.

Through her participation in activities at Female Friendly Space, I. discovered something she realized she had never had before: time for herself in a place of self-care, creativity, and discovery of her abilities.

As she says:

“I found a place where I can relax and feel good… I found my family.”

Today, I. is an example of strength and perseverance for the other women participating in the activities. Despite the difficulties, she continues to dream of a better world.

 “I want a world that has room for all of us… and where I will never be separated from my children. I want them to always be strong and healthy, and for us to live in a home full of flowers.”

S.’s story

S., 67 years old, arrived in Greece about a year ago with her husband and their adult son. She also has other children who live very far away. She comes from Palestine and lives at the Polykastro accommodation site.

When she learned that there was a space dedicated exclusively to women, she immediately wanted to join. At the time, she was experiencing intense loneliness. She spent most of her day inside the container where she lives and was looking for a way to socialize and spend her time creatively.

As she explains:

“It helps me a lot to forget my worries… I haven’t seen my children for fifteen years. My family is scattered.”

In the Female Friendly Space, she found something very meaningful: companionship, conversation, and moments of everyday joy.

Her favorite activity is meeting with the other women, sharing their news, laughing, and drinking tea together, a habit that reminds her of life in her home country. At the same time, she particularly enjoys artistic activities and handicrafts, which help her relax and express herself creatively.

Through the discussions and activities, she continues to learn new things.

“Through our conversations, I learned the story behind International Women’s Day,” she says.

Her greatest wish is for a world without war and to be reunited with her family.

“I want a world without war, with freedom for all people… and to be able to see my children again.”

When support becomes community

I. and S. are two of the many women we meet every day in the areas where Female Forward is implemented. In the Women’s Safe Spaces, women with different life stories find a place where they can feel accepted, build relationships of trust, and support one another.

Through these small everyday moments of connection and empowerment, something bigger is created: a community that brings light and hope for the future, even in a world full of uncertainty.

*The project “Female Forward • Together for Women’s Inclusion” is funded by the Kahane Foundation.