In 2016 a committee of different women organizations and initiatives in Rojava – Kongra Star, the Free Womens Foundation, the Jineolojî Committee and the Martyr Families Association -made the decision to realize a women’s village in Rojava
The idea of a women’s village in Rojava was born years ago, building on a long and likewise hidden history of women-centered societies, spaces and utopias, also encouraged by Abdullah Öcalan who expressed the wish that women would create their own city.
Jinwar project announcement on November 25th, 2016
After a period of planning and discussing among women all over Rojava, in the beginning of spring 2017 we started with the construction of Jinwar.
Photographs of the construction processes with adobe bricks of the 2017 women’s village.
We decided to build our houses the way people have built their houses in this region since long time ago. For this traditional and sustainable way of building it is important that the weather is warm and dry. For the adobe bricks – kerpîç – we are using a mixture of earth, water and straw. After putting the mixture in a form made of wood, the bricks have to dry a few days until one can build the first walls with them.
Process of elaboration of a hermel with the dried seeds.
The Hermel
The Hermel has a long tradition in the region of Rojava Kurdistan. For hundred of years women created this artifact and placed it above the doors or on the walls of their houses. The pearls are the dried fruits of a plant growing on the small hills that can be found in the flat landscape of Rojava, marking the hidden heritage of ancient villages and forms of civilization. The plant itself is called “Harmal“ (Peganum Harmala) and several myths designate it as a plant of women. In many Middle Eastern countries the burning of its seeds is used for medical treatment. The Hermel has been used as a calendar, with a line of pearls for every month and a pearl for each day. Furthermore it is supposed to protect the house, the family, the land from harm and bring good fortune. As it is deeply connected to the history of the region and is known as a symbol of womens force, the women of Jinwar decided to make it the symbol of the village.
Jinwar was officially inaugurated on 25th November 2018
We have made the commune a beautiful place to live. We painted murals on buildings throughout the community. The works represent Jinwar’s message: strong women building an eco-friendly community. The artwork brings color and life to the initially bare community buildings. The murals show the beauty of Jinwar’s movement to liberate women.
We painted Şahmaran as the bearer of an ancient knowledge and a symbol of struggle, transformation and occult wisdom.
Moral painting of the figure of Şahmaran, the queen of snakes.