When Nameet Yousfi arrived in Northern Ireland four years ago, after leaving war-torn Syria, she didn't know what to expect.
he mother of five, who had worked for 17 years as an agricultural engineer in the State Planning Commission in Damascus, knew nothing about the place she was about to call home and she spoke little English. Under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme, Nameet (70) was resettled in the Colin area of west Belfast along with her husband, one daughter and one son.
In 1991, Footprints Women's Centre was set up to meet the distinct needs of local women and their families through education and training while offering childcare. Given its experience helping women affected by issues such as conflict, gender discrimination and deprivation, Footprints was ideally positioned to help Nameet, and the Syrian women who followed her, as she attempted to start her new life in Belfast.
"I didn't know about Northern Ireland when I first came here but the smiles that greeted us gave us optimism for living in this city," Nameet says.
"I live in Andersonstown now but before I moved, I lived in Colin, near Footprints. I was there for three years. My son and my key worker saw the sign for the women's centre and told me to go.
"My English wasn't very good at the time and I didn't know anyone, but a lady at the centre encouraged me to learn English.
"That gave me good motivation to become a volunteer. I show them how to do Syrian cuisine and help with courses like sewing.
"Now we have more Syrian woman coming to the centre. The staff there have given us such a warm welcome. They've made us feel comfortable and it feels like I'm home."
Nameet had a happy life back in Damascus. She enjoyed her job in the State Planning Commission, developing five-year agricultural projects and overseeing investment, and she and her husband, a factory worker and dressmaker, were content with their lot. But then war broke out and the factory was destroyed.
Neighbours and friends were killed as war ravaged the country and Nameet and her family were forced to flee their home in 2013.
Initially they relocated to Turkey to live with one of Nameet's sons. After a two-year stay, the United Nations stepped in and offered to resettle the family. At first, they were given the option of moving to the US but then Nameet was told they were being relocated to the UK.
With a brother working as an ENT consultant in Manchester, this was preferable and in 2017, Nameet, her husband and two of their grown-up children arrived in Belfast.
Another son set up home in Germany while two of her daughters remained in Turkey.
"Of course we were very sad leaving our city but the war was very dangerous," she says.
"Also, I had started to see a different view of the world. It was difficult for my daughter especially, who was at university. I was worried about her.
"My son who came to Belfast with me was studying tourism before we came here. He finished his degree and graduated from the University of Ulster. My daughter has autism and attends a day centre in Lisburn, which she enjoys. I think there is more support here for people with learning needs."
In 2017, Footprints Women Centre, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, received a grant of £299,862 from The National Lottery Community Fund, to help local people experiencing food poverty, access healthy food at low prices.
Isobel Loughran from Footprints explains: "Food poverty is a huge issue in this area. We have high levels of unemployment and lone parent families, with 90% of these headed by women.
"Here at Footprints we tackle food poverty from a sustainable living approach. We opened Northern Ireland's first social supermarket in 2017 and through the charity Fair Share, which accesses surplus stock from Tesco, Asda and Lidl, we can sell good, in-date food to our members at 50 to 70% below supermarket prices."
Through word of mouth, more Syrian women resettling in the west Belfast area, began to attend Footprints. In 2020, the centre received additional National Lottery funding to support the local Syrian women. Every week, across the UK, National Lottery players raise £30m for good causes like this. The funding helped the women access support, such as the social supermarket and ESOL classes (English for Speakers of Other Language). It also helped them integrate into centre life in a natural way.
During lockdown, Footprints staff implemented a plan to ensure the Syrian community was supported. Food parcels to meet their needs were supplied and English classes continued through remote media platforms.
Nameet, whose English has improved significantly since taking up classes, says she feels part of the Footprints family and considers Belfast her home.
"Footprints has been very good to the Syrian ladies," says Nameet.
"I do feel comfortable and relaxed here and I've met new friends. The people are very friendly.
"Also, the care of health is good but it takes much longer to be seen here than in Syria. I think they need more doctors in Northern Ireland.
"But people here have had hard times too and I think that helps them to understand what we've been through and why we had to leave Syria. It makes them want to take care of other people and so we are happy to be living here now."
