Beauty Among the Ruins: Hanade's Journey Through an Earthquake
The earthquake disaster destroyed many shops and factories, leaving business owners in great need for assistance to restore their businesses.
Hanade
Hanade, a Syrian hairdresser in southeastern Türkiye, has faced her share of trials, from the COVID-19 pandemic to a devastating earthquake in February 2023. Despite these setbacks, her story is one of unwavering resilience and the power of support in rebuilding lives and businesses.
My first setback during my career was COVID-19, then the second was the earthquake.
Hanade, a Syrian hairdresser
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Many businesses in southeastern Türkiye were finally getting back on their feet following Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Disaster however struck again in February of 2023; the 7.8 magnitude earthquakes destroyed many shops and businesses, with people suffering great losses. Hanade was one of them.
Hande is working in her shop in Reyhanlı, Hatay. She was one of the many people who suffered from losses as a result of the earthquake.
From Survival to Success
Arriving in Hatay, Türkiye, in 2015 from war-torn Syria, Hanade was determined to achieve financial independence and make a positive impact. With a passion for skincare and hairstyling, she started her journey with a simple carry-on kit, providing services directly in clients' homes. Her ambition extended beyond personal success; she aimed to empower other women by offering training at a vocational center in Reyhanlı, Hatay.
Hanade has a long experience with hairdressing and skin care. This made her one of the promising start-ups in the Business Development project.
The war in Syria caused misery for many people... I wanted to make them strong through providing them with skills and increasing their self-confidence in different ways.
Hanade, a Syrian hairdresser
Overcoming Adversity
The global pandemic posed significant challenges for Hanade, halting her training sessions and leaving her unable to work for months due to illness and lockdowns. Yet, her resilience shone through as she resumed her work post-lockdown, still dreaming of owning her own centre. This dream began to materialise in the spring 2022 when Hanade approached DRC for legal counselling. Discovering her profession, DRC staff introduced her to the Business Development Centre programme. This initiative offered her the opportunity to learn about project management, financial management, and more, eventually culminating in an in-kind grant for beauty equipment to establish her own beauty centre.
I already had the skills, but it was my first time to open a business. [The newfound skills enabled] me to become professional and take my first steps into my dream.
Hanade, a Syrian hairdresser
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Facing a New Challenge
Her success, however, was short-lived. The earthquake in early 2023 brought destruction and uncertainty, forcing Hanade to pause her operations. Determined to continue, she temporarily relocated her business, facing challenges such as damaged equipment and looting. DRC was able to provide support to rebuild her business.
Part of the Emergency Response Programme was compensating our previous participants [from certain projects] with the equipment and tools they lost in the earthquake and help them get on their feet again.
Quousai Djoukhadar, DRC Türkiye's Economic Recovery Team Leader
A New Beginning
Now back in her original centre, Hanade has not only recovered her business but is also looking to expand and continue her mission of empowering women.
Women should be aware that they have to be independent. Life can be so unpredictable, and they have to be ready for that at any time.
Hanade, a Syrian hairdresser
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As the region continues to recover from the earthquake, the demand for jobs and support for businesses like Hanade's remains high.