Shadia Shatti's, 22, from the Jordan Valley’s Deir Alla region, dream to complete her university education and to continue her childhood passion got a boost from one of the initiatives of Madad Project run by the Business Development Centre (BDC).

The project is part of "Enhancing access to protection, participation and services for refugee women and host communities in Jordan" programme and is financed by the European Union through the European Union Regional Trust Fund for Responding to the Syrian Crisis, the Madad Fund, and implemented by the coalition led by the Euro-Mediterranean Feminist Initiative (EFI).

Shatti lives with her mother and two of her siblings and use the deceased father’s pension to sustain themselves.

"My father passed away long time ago, and I was aware of the financial situation of my family. I did not want to burden my mother and brothers with the expenses of university studies,” she said.

Despite the obstacles, Shatti and her friends applied to join Madad Project run by the BDC and got acquainted with the many courses provided by the project.

"I liked the idea of joining the photography course, as this was my passion since childhood,” she said.

Shatti said that her sister who runs a beauty salon for women gives her the opportunity to hold photo sessions for brides and thus apply her photography skills.

Shatti is now saving to buy a camera. Today, she works with two friends on a rotating basis, to take pictures at weddings and events in the area using a camera that one of them has.

 "Today I am happy. I was able to fulfill my passion in photography. Additionally, I managed to join the university majoring in physical education”.

Shatti plans to start her own business, especially that unemployment among women in Deir Alla is high even for those with a university degree.

"I will work to obtain my university degree and develop my enterprise simultaneously. I want to run a photography studio to cover my university expenses and support my family. This way, I already know what and where I will work once I graduate.”

(The Business Development Centre contributed this article to The Jordan Times)