SDG 5: Gender Equality
For 13 years, the conflict raging in Syria has taken an enormous toll on local families, continuously disrupting livelihoods and access to education and basic services. In rural communities, where agriculture remains the primary source of income, two consecutive years of drought have worsened matters. Desperate families are resorting to early and forced marriage to have one less mouth to feed, and gender-based violence (GBV) is increasing with food insecurity.
To help families cope better with these challenges, CARE and local partners have turned to the arts. Interactive theater, part of a wider resilience program in Northeast Syria, uses storytelling and audience participation to open dialogues on sensitive topics relevant to local communities. By encouraging personal reflection and group discussion with both men and women, the interactive theater troupe is helping change mindsets and behaviors.
“Only when a girl becomes an adult is she able to make decisions and take on such a big responsibility as marriage,” said one participant, following a performance and discussion on consent. “We should raise awareness among fathers to also say no, even if their young daughters say yes to marriages that they are not fully aware of the consequences of.” “Now I realize I want my children to be educated. I want to raise them well,” said another male participant. “[These activities] benefit us and our children and future generations.”
After an initial 6-month project that reached 1,270 people, CARE is expanding into more villages and exploring ways to scale up the programming.