Our story

Our story

Syrian Sisters was set up in 2016 by Nuha Abdo, herself a Syrian Refugee who wanted to do something to help and support her community. The group’s aim is to support people to participate in activities and events helping them integrate into the wider community. We are a consituted community group and have a comittee of Syrian and Arabic speaking women who lead the group. 

Syrian Sisters wants to move beyond the definition of ‘refugee’ and be recognised as valid members of the community who contribute as the individuals that they are.

Since launching in 2016, Syrian Sisters has grown from strength to strength welcomes women and their families from all backgrounds, including refugees from Sudan, Afghanistan and Pakistan among others.

Our mission is to initiate programmes led by Syrian women that protect Syrian women and girls across socio-economic backgrounds, and empower women to find their political voice and participate in building a new, peaceful Syria that respects and safeguards equal rights for all its citizens.

Syrian Sisters has provided a wealth of opportunities and actives for its members and the wider community. Some of the activities include: mother and baby English lessons, done Yoga and Zumba classes, handicraft and jewellery-making workshops and participated in events such as the Cowley Road Carnival and the Oxford Mela with other local groups. They have been on outings to the seaside, farms, and outdoor centres and have run holiday activity camps at Rose Hill Community Centre open to all children in the local area.

The group organised for some of the women to complete their food hygiene certificates and several have gone on to start a successful catering business.

The group continues to seek opportunities for their members to come together and develop their skills whilst always looking for ways to give back to the local community that has supported them during their resettlement.

Initially funded by Asylum Welcome, Syrian Sisters now works with national charities such as the British Red Cross and Oxfam, as well as local charities such as Asylum Welcome, Refugee Resource and Aspire, to ensure members are provided with as much support as they need during their transition into the UK.

Currently, the group hosts a variety of activities on a weekly, fortnightly and monthly basis in Rose Hill Community Centre. English courses have been run by the University of Oxford, designed for women with babies and small children who have difficulty attending college-based courses. They have also organised lectures on welfare benefits, jobs and how to organise events and activities for community members and the wider public.

An early and important initiative was a 6-week training course in food hygiene which provided the group with a formal certification in Food Safety. This enabled members of the group to provide catering at community events, as well as at Flo’s Café in Florence Park and Damascus Rose Kitchen at the Old Fire Station. In addition to providing some income, it has proved to be a good way for group members to meet and speak with other people in their community. Similarly, members of the group have learned jewellery making from a local resident which they sell on Sundays at Wolvercote Community Market.