Syrian uses waste to empower women

Sophomore college student Anas Al Anjaraini remembers the day he received a phone call from his parents to inform him that the family was being forced to leave their home.

Hailing from Aleppo, the 27-year-old moved to his grandfather’s farm in 2013 with no home, studies or job.

“That was a hard downfall. I only had the clothes I was wearing that day and I started thinking of the next step to take and the action I should make to get myself out of this,” Al Anjaraini said with teary eyes.

The working student was among three million Syrians who lost their jobs to the civil war and among 6.2 million who were internally displaced.

Determined to get back on his feet, he started selling clothes on the streets with the word “displaced” ringing in his head every day and pushing him to go further.

“I spent sleepless nights brainstorming, even when the electricity went out, until it occurred to me to start a project from waste.”

Al Anjaraini started his ‘Nebrass’

initiative to transform waste from Aleppo’s kitchens into high-quality products — designed by women with limited income — to be sold in Syria’s markets. Part of the proceeds go to funding students’ university education, with the support of local non-profit organisations.

The social initiative started with a handmade ‘Nebrass’ diary, fully made from recyclables, which reached 10 countries across the world. Over 1,000 copies are currently available in Syria’s markets.

Since the war has cut the source of income for over 12 million people, Al Anjaraini selected female providers in need to maintain the stability of many homes. The initiative aims to empower families and support university students while preserving the initiative through recycling.

It has so far helped recycle 304,000 pieces of waste into innovative products, empowering 40 low-income women and supporting 12 students to complete their medicine and engineering studies.

Rasha Hazem, a single mother of three, said doing something to help students complete their education motivates her to work through long hours. “The feeling that I’m working to provide for my children and empower other students makes me forget my struggle and push through the difficulties that the war has imposed on us,” she said.

Al Anjaraini stressed that being displaced should not hinder people from contributing to their societies. “During difficult times, we should swim to the rescue ship instead of staying in deep waters and expecting to be rescued. We should empower others and build bridges, not walls.”

Al Anjaraini proved that opportunities are created, even with scarce resources. “Life is full of ups and downs, but remember, a wounded animal takes larger leaps.”

During difficult times, we should swim to the rescue ship instead of staying in deep waters and expecting to be rescued.”

Anas Al Anjaraini, founder, Nebrass initiative