Redwan Adalat - Humans of Kurdistan

in Humans of North

“I am twenty-one years old and I work in Istanbul. I traveled back to our village to take a break from work. I have come to prepare the surroundings of this small pond for picnics. Without the use of concrete, I want to recreate the nature that was once here. People started loving the place and they come here often for picnics. I am delighted that our village is known for its beauty. A lot of people stay at their homes because of the Covid-19 outbreak, but once they come out, they want to go to see nature, and this is the perfect place for that.” ...

Sep 22 2020

September 22, 2020

“I was in Koya when I got married, I thought of buying a cobbling machine; I bought one for 4 dinars and started cobbling. Ever since, I have been working as a cobbler, and to wherever I have moved I have immediately opened a cobbling shop. I have never worked in any other field, I have been cobbling for years continuously. I have taught all of my 4 sons to be cobblers as well, and now 2 of them are still working here and the other 2 live outside of the country. Back in the day, all of the cobbling machines used to be of German made. My machine was truly heavy, about 60 kilograms. Previously, our many had a lot of value, but life has become too difficult now. The most difficult type of shoe I have worked on is Adidas, sometimes they called the PKK shoes, machines and sewing kits can't work with them properly.” ...

Sep 22 2020

September 22, 2020

in Humans of East

“I have always wanted to treat my child as a friend rather than just as a parent. I wouldn't want my child to be shy to talk to me, or be afraid of me. I don't want to treat my child the way many other parents treat their kids. Now I have a son and I am a father, I have always tried to be his friend and make him comfortable with me. We have a great relationship, I have let him to tell me whatever he wants without holding anything back, and I always listen to him and get him what he needs. Hakan is very comfortable when I am around; he treats me his own friends. I would really love it if he could go to either medical school or become a teacher and work away from the bazaar.” ...

Sep 21 2020

September 21, 2020

in Humans of West

“I sell dairy products and honey and serve those to my customers as breakfast. 27 years ago, I opened this shop, regardless of my age (Forty Years) I still look young, and that credit goes to honey and the Qaimagh I eat. I have a customer that is a hundred years older; he has been visiting my shop continuously for 27 years eating breakfast here and he is still in great shape. I have a good experience in recognizing good and bad quality honey at first site, it is not that hard you know. As of Qaimagh, there is an Arab tribe called (Al Sharabin), they make Qaimagh using cow's milk, it is very tasty. Qamishlo is one of those cities that are well known for their breakfast and that is why I want my kids to do the same thing as I do.” ...

Sep 21 2020

September 21, 2020

“It is the nature of life, everyone wishes for a different thing. Some people might find it strange that since I got married at 18, all my wishes was to have a daughter. God blessed me with 4 sons and deprived me of a daughter. When my eldest son got married, I wished for a girl again. When they had a baby, it was a boy. Deep down, I was very sad.But God did not leave me hopeless and their second child was a girl, which was my lifelong dream. Rahin is all my happiness now, I cannot stand not seeing her for one day.Whenever I come across anyone with a dream that they think they cannot achieve, I always bring my story as an example and advise them to be patient and believe in God, knowing that God will not leave anyone hopeless.” ...

Sep 20 2020

September 20, 2020

“Through volunteering I have been able to participate in many activities that help make the society better. in 2016, while I was a sophomore in the university of Duhok, I volunteered to manage all the volunteers in Duhok university. Along with a group of volunteers we had many activities related to youth growth. After that, in 2018 I started volunteering with the Voice of Youth organization and then became an employee after a while. Currently, I have set out great programs for planning and activities for youth. One of my best projects is under the name "The little free libraries," and that was created by several artists and I was a part of it as well. We have each set up a little library, and the idea is to donate the books you have read to other people to read. You can donate a book and in return take a new one, and this will help to create a culture for reading and donating. The libraries have been setup in several places in Duhok.” ...

Sep 20 2020

September 20, 2020

in Humans of East

“I have 3 wives, and I have 20 kids and now we are 102 family members. I have struggled a lot both in Iraq and Iran, so I really regret it that I got married 3 times. Now I care about 102 people everyday. I looked very handsome as a teenager I couldn't go out normally, but I have changed. I am seventy five now and if I were a bit more handsome I would get married once more. I'm really sad that I cannot get married for the fourth time. Previously, people loved it even when I said hi to them, now when I try to communicate, no one really even answers.” ...

Sep 19 2020

September 19, 2020

“I have been living in Hawler for several years now, from what I have seen, I know for sure that Hawler is a city of coexistence. Apart from me as an Arab, I have seen many other nationalities living peacefully same as I do. I paint for a living. Everyday I go to near Qalat and spend a peaceful day. What makes me happy the most is that the people also appreciate my work. It doesn't matter to me whether the individuals I paint are politicians, athletes, or artists, what matters is that I deliver what is asked from me.I admit that I do take money for my work, but that has never been the standard for what I do because I usually enjoy the works that I do for free much more.” ...

Sep 19 2020

September 19, 2020

“It is now almost 14 years since I have had this shop. I work here 18 hours a day and do not want to feel like I don’t have anything to do. I want to be constantly busy with work and not think about the world. I also like to keep my shop clean, I always clean the items and outside my shop. Once I was cleaning in front of my shop, my neighbor, who is an old woman, said can you please clean in front of my house as well? I found that very strange, but I said of course dear, I will clean yours once I am done with mine.” ...

Sep 18 2020

September 18, 2020

in Humans of West

“As a field reporter I work for an establishment. Once I finished my bachelor degree, I came second in Hasaka, and seventh in Syria. I didn't go back to the university because what I wanted to study was only available in Latakia and due to my financial situation, I wasn't able to register. This became very hard for me for a long time, but because of my family's support I was able to register at the Media Institution and after a while I became a reporter.During my working time I went through a lot of things. One time, we were busy with reporting about the ISIS women in Al Hawl camp, which is one of the most dangerous camps in the world. One of the women there attacked me and tried to stab me because I was not wearing a hijab, she called me an infidel.I currently live with my family and all of my brothers have migrated to Europe.” ...

Sep 18 2020

September 18, 2020