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CAFOD

It has been over a decade since Emm Mahmoud, 43, left her home.

She is one of the millions of Syrians who felt they had no choice but to flee as war tore their country apart.

Lebanon - vocational trainees being interviewed

Livelihoods and educational training meeting at the Woman Now Centre in Lebanon

The Syrian women starting again after losing everything to war

Thirteen years since the conflict began, more than 5.6 million refugees are still unable to return to Syria. Emm Mahmoud and her family were safe - but their problems were far from over. She'd left behind not only her home, but her community, and a successful sewing business.

Emm Mahmoud heard about a centre offering courses to help women who had fled the conflict in Syria come together, build on their skills, and find new ways to earn a living.

Initiatives like the Women's Now Centre based in Lebanon provide essential resources and programmes that empower women like Emm Mahmoud.

Thanks to generous donations from supporters like you, CAFOD works with local experts to help our partner, Women Now, provide psychosocial support for women and children recovering from trauma, as well as English language and computer skills classes.

Please give today

After the first session I attended, I returned home and told my family that I feel I am alive

Emm Mahmoud, vocational trainee at Women Now Centre