(EQTSAD)- Peering under the hood of a car, Um Muhamad, 40, examines the engine’s parts, the brake fluid, and other components of the vehicle in an application of the knowledge she had gained during her driving and mechanics training course, the first of its kind in the liberated areas.
The free course, organized by Genius Center in Aldana, included a theoretical and practical training dealing with car breakdowns and emergencies.
Maher Bulad, a trainer in the center, said that the idea emerged out of Idlib’s need for such courses, especially in the field of mechanics, driving, road signs, etc. The idea was initially driving and traffic lessons. Bulad prepared a training kit and presented the idea to Genius Center for Vocational Rehabilitation in Al-Dana, which was welcomed and approved, provided that it included women.
With the free training hubs set up, the course was announced to gain the largest possible number of attendees, as the local communities in many liberated areas needed such a course. Since the beginning of the war people neglected traffic laws and many young people do not know them, which can easily lead to dangerous accidents.
Despite the difficult circumstances in Idlib, the women’s sessions witnessed a large turnout. The three-day course included simple instructions and methods solving problems they may encounter while driving a car.
“There are mechanical concepts that the women were not familiar with, and they were amazed by. They did not expect it to include all these details and information about cars,” Bulad explained.
The course was divided into two sections: the principles of auto mechanics and driving and traffic lessons simplified and explained through PowerPoint slides.
After completing the theoretical training, the participants practiced in a Center car. Bulad said that he is always looking for inexpensive training projects, and he aspires to establish a bigger center that provides practical training in several specialties with auditory, visual and sensory training.
With bad roads and lack of services, traffic lights and road signs, most of the liberated areas lack schools that teach the basics of driving. All the trainees do not have driving licenses and this is one of the future goals of the project, which requires a permit from the local authorities.
Up to 40 women and girls contacted the organizers to join the course, but the specified training period prevented half of them from participating due to work commitments. There is a plan for a second course, to accommodate the women who were not able to attend the first cycle.
Syria's nearly nine-year conflict has killed close to half a million people and displaced half of the population, including more than 5 million who are now refugees, mostly in neighboring countries.
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