RANIA SHIEKH MUSTAFA

 

Rania holds a BA from the Faculty of Sharia from the University of Damascus, specializing in Islamic Studies and International Law, Oxford, in addition to a number of training certificates in digital security, media, and leadership. With the start of the revolution in early 2011, she was at the forefront. She got involved in humanitarian activities. She also became a media activist during this time.

Rania was among the very first women in the Homs region who started civil society activism. She formed a team of 5 volunteer women and started initiatives. In 2013 she moved to the liberated Syrian north. But after she got married, she moved to Turkey to settle there. Her marriage did not stop her activities, rather it made her think of the work women could do. It increased her belief in the need to continue, and the possibilities, especially with women at home. She formed a forum for Syrian and Turkish women in Hatay for integration and coexistence, and after the great turnout at the forum, she decided to put her energies to develop women’s work and their activism. She started initiatives for adolescent girls and created awareness programs, self-development. Through the forum they started opening some doors for work in different areas. She also received a number of trainings with the Turkish KADEM organization in building civil society, and a number of women from the Women’s Forum participated with it. Rania was appointed to the protection office for the Badir Humanitarian Organization, and was authorized through her organization to join the Women’s Protection Network.

Through one of the trainings in the Women Protection Network, in cooperation with Tastakel organization, Rania became more engaged with Tastakel. This had impact on her professional life and added a new dimension to her activities. The training she received on conflict resolution, the peace process, negotiations, mediation, government, communication skills and human rights law she found were more comprehensive and qualitative. Rania became an active member in the organization and became part of Tastakel administration within their office in Antakya. She currently holds the position of office manager, and felt happy seeing herself become part of the Tastakel team. Today, Rania feels that she is part of a family that cares for women to be at the forefront through training on empowering. She’s happy to be working on programs that help women become leaders, and contribute positively to family, society and towards a new future for their country.