Empowering Syrian Refugee Students Through Soft Skills Training

Introduction
In 2020, Chawy Zanko Organization (CZO), in partnership with SPARK, launched the Economic Empowerment Programme (EEP) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The project’s Soft Skills Component focused on strengthening the resilience and employability of Syrian refugee students and recent graduates. At a time marked by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program provided young people with vital tools to enter the job market with confidence.

Project Overview

  • Implementation Area: Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq
  • Duration: May 11 – August 15, 2020
  • Target Group: 35 Syrian refugee students
  • Budget: $66,620 (with $57,330 requested from SPARK)

The program was designed to create opportunities for students to find employment in their study areas by improving leadership, communication, and professional skills.

Training Design and Delivery

  • Venue: Dilshad Palace, Duhok (selected for safety and facilities).
  • Duration: 10 days of intensive training, totaling 60 hours.
  • Approach: Students were divided into smaller groups to ensure gender balance, minimize COVID-19 risks, and maximize engagement.
  • Subjects Covered:
  • Leadership & Public Speaking

    1. Critical Thinking & Decision-making

    2. Time Management

    3. CV Writing & Job Interview Skills

    4. Problem Solving & Conflict Resolution

    5. Networking & Communication

    6. Social & Sales Skills

    7. MS Word & Excel (Advanced)

Specialized trainers were selected not only for their expertise but also for their ability to connect with students’ real-world challenges.

Participant Support

CZO ensured that students could learn in a safe and supportive environment by providing:

  • COVID-19 Protection: masks, gloves, sanitizers for all participants.
  • Stationery Package: notebooks, pens, and highlighters for note-taking.
  • Daily Support: travel cost compensation, coffee breaks, and open-buffet lunches.
  • Certificates: awarded at a special ceremony in September 2020, boosting participants’ résumés.

Outcomes and Achievements

  1. 35 students trained, with zero dropouts.
  2. 25 training materials developed specifically for the program.
  3. Improved skills across key areas (based on pre- and post-surveys):
  • CV Writing & Job Interviews: +29% improvement
  • Leadership & Public Speaking: +23% improvement
  • Critical Thinking: +23% improvement
  • Time Management: +20% improvement
  • MS Word & Excel: +18% improvemennt

4. Positive Feedback: Students described the training as practical, relevant, and transformative.

Success Story: Roken Ibrahim

One notable participant, Roken Ibrahim, a law graduate from Duhok, secured a finance job shortly after completing the training. She credits her success to the program:

“I applied the exact skills I learned during the trainings in my interview, and that’s how I secured my position. The Excel training, in particular, has been essential in my daily work.”

Lessons Learned

  • Flexible management and strong local staff enabled the program to succeed despite COVID-19 restrictions.

  • Friendly, non-authoritative engagement between trainers and students increased trust and effectiveness.

  • Cultural and dialect differences required adaptation but enriched the learning environment.

Conclusion

The EEP Soft Skills Component empowered Syrian refugee students with the confidence, knowledge, and tools to pursue meaningful employment opportunities. By combining practical training, professional development, and supportive mentorship, the program demonstrated that even in times of crisis, investing in youth skills creates pathways to resilience and opportunity.