In the fields of Akkar, Yusra, a 33-year-old woman from Tal Abbas, has spent more than a decade working the land she loves. For nearly 12 years, farming was part of her daily life, even when those around her doubted that agriculture could still offer a future.
Her husband had gradually lost interest in working the land. For almost five years, he had no desire to be involved in farming. But for Yusra, the connection to the soil never disappeared.
Everything began to change after she joined agricultural training with Basmeh & Zeitooneh through the AgriForward project. Through the sessions, she gained technical knowledge, practical experience, and something even more important: confidence.
“We learned from the trainers how to spray crops properly and how to test the soil,” Yusra says. “For the first time, I felt capable of taking on a project myself.”
The training opened a new world for her. She learned about greenhouse installation, nylon coverings, and even mechanical maintenance for tractors. What once felt intimidating slowly became familiar.
Laughing, she recalls a recent moment at home: “My husband’s motorcycle broke down, and I told him to fix the spark plug. He looked at me and said, ‘What do you know about spark plugs?’ I told him, ‘I’m taking lessons!’”
The change did not stop with technical skills. Step by step, Yusra began to see herself differently. During one of the project activities, she was asked to use an agricultural shredder machine, something she once would have been too afraid to touch.
“I felt like I had the courage to try new things,” she says. “Now I feel like I’m a woman who can handle responsibility.”
Today, Yusra is encouraging her husband to return to agriculture with her. What began as hesitation has slowly turned into shared motivation. After every session, she would return home and tell him what she learned, until the idea of starting their own agricultural project no longer felt impossible.
“At first, he worried because I’m a mother and already have many responsibilities,” she explains. “But now I’m the one encouraging him.”
For Yusra, learning agricultural skills is about more than farming. It is about independence, resilience, and preparing for whatever life may bring.
“A woman may one day have to carry everything on her own,” she says. “That’s why I want to learn everything. I want to be able to be both a mother and a father if I ever need to.”
Most of all, she hopes her children will grow up connected to the land, proud of agriculture, and unafraid of hard work.
Before joining the training, Yusra believed some things were simply beyond her abilities. Machinery, maintenance, and field equipment felt like a world reserved for men. Today, she uses them confidently without fear.
“If women learn these agricultural skills,” she says, “they gain confidence in themselves. They become stronger.”
The AgriForward project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) under a consortium with World Vision, Basmeh & Zeitooneh, Save the Children, Arcenciel, and Threads of Peace.
Written by: Ibrahim Al-Housseiny