Sartip Vim - Humans of Kurdistan

in Humans of East

“My name is Frishta Husseini from Meyvan village in Paveh city. It is nearing 20 years that I have been working in making Kalash. Kalash shoes are white in color in all of Hawraman; thus, we didn’t have that many customers, so I started mixing colors into it. Our village receives many tourists; I started with one colorful Kalash; the tourists loved it! Back then, Kalash used to be worn only by men, but with this new design, women now wear it even more. At first, only 35 people made Kalash in the village, but now women and girls in every household are occupied with the craft. The village is dubbed Kalash Village in Iran.” ...

Mar 02 2023

January 15, 2023

in Humans of East

“My name is Habiba, and I’m from Palani village in the Kamyaran area. I’m 53 years old and got married at 12. My husband had four sisters and one brother, all of whom were disabled. I lived with them and took care of them one by one. I was really young when my father died in the village flood; they never found his body. My mother taught me how to make bread; it was so important for her that she always said, “Let your breadbasket always be full of bread; when you have guests over, bread is more important than the food.” So, this is why I have taught all my daughters and the girls in my in-law family how to make bread.” ...

Jan 15 2023

December 1, 2023

in Humans of East

“My name is Sharbat Ramzaniy, and I’m from Palangan village in Kamyaran. My mother has been a strong and artistic woman; she has taught me many crafts and arts since 15. Today, only my mother and I can knit chenille blankets. Anyone who wants to learn how to do it must come to my mother to teach them. Thank goodness, I make a living on it, it makes me busy, and I also feel proud to know an old style of Kurdish art that is about to be forgotten. I know so many art crafts that if there’s one new to me, I just observe it, and then I’ll start doing it and learn right away. This has made me known as a strong and artistic woman.” ...

Jan 15 2023

January 4, 2023

in Humans of West

“My name is Hussein Abida, and I’m 50 years old. I live in Tall Tamr in the area of conflict between the Kurdish forces, the Turkish army, and its Islamic proxies. Even though our village is semi-continuously facing bombardment from Turkish forces, my family and I have not left our home and will not leave. Leaving your village and home is difficult; I can stay in the village and bear the bombardment, but I won’t go to the camps and live in a tent. The bomb fragments are on the roads of the village all the time. I pray every day for god to bring peace and security to Rojava and Syria and for the war to end.” ...

Jan 15 2023

January 11, 2023

“I don’t remember being jealous of anyone, but since I have gotten old and unable to walk, I’ve started being jealous. When I see people standing on their feet and praying to God, I become jealous of them. Sometimes, I feel embarrassed when I pray while sitting. I’m in front of a being that only he is omnipotent and all-powerful. And from the beginning to the end of times, this is all his domain. The pleasure of faith is felt by only those who are honest in their love for God. There are many ways to get closer to the Lord, but prayer is the most gratifying one for me.” ...

Jan 15 2023

December 18, 2022

“In the 80s, when the school in our village closed down, we couldn’t travel for hours on foot to attend the school in the city. Consequently, I dropped out of school in fifth grade. I started helping my father in Chia Sumac, we picked apples, and our livelihood depended on these products. I got older and became a stonecutter in the early 2000s, and we were building houses. From then, my life blended with hammers and stones. Now, if I only look at the stone, I know if it will be useful for building or not. My work is tough, and I work eight hours daily; I suffer during the night because of the pain in my hands and shoulders. However, I’m still happy because the food I bring to the table for my children is the fruit of my labor.” ...

Jan 15 2023

December 6, 2022

“Even though obesity is genetic, I can’t have that as an excuse to ignore my body. The difficult conditions force me to spend most of my time in my restaurant. I wish I have the chance to work out daily. Right now, instead of workouts, I have organized an intake plan for myself, and I’m currently on a great diet plan. Friends often tell me, “How can you quit rich-in-fat foods and carbohydrates while you are a kebab chief and prepare many delicious dishes every day for the customers?” We have to realize that life is not all about eating. Health and a fit body are more important. What good is delicious food when you can’t wear something fitting to you and suffer from tens of illnesses? It is true that I mostly eat fruits and vegetables, but I’m glad that I’m healthy and looking after my body.” ...

Jan 15 2023

November 27, 2022

“There were days when no one in this city could compete with me in lifting weights, but now, I tear up for how weak I have become. If I tell people that I used to one-hand lift a gunnysack of flour, they might not believe me, but you can ask all of the old-time porters or people my age; they were all witnesses to my challenges. I lifted a 50-kilo gunnysack of flour, and that’s why I tattooed the number 50 on my arm. Now, I can’t even lift a kerosene heater or a gas bottle, but I’m thankful to the Lord for being healthy and not ill. Old age doesn’t shy from anyone.” ...

Jan 15 2023

November 16, 2022

“I opened a tailor shop in the 60s, and I’m considered the oldest tailor in Akre who is still in the profession. I learned this work from my ancestors, and they learned from the Jews. In return, I taught my children, and now they have shops too. Besides them, I have taught this profession to 70 women, and now their livelihood is on it. I remember many old artists, such as Tahsin Taha, Ardawan Zakhoiy, and Fuad Ahmad, who used to come to me to tailor their attire. During Newroz and holidays, people visit me for traditional Kurdish clothes from everywhere. This gives me a great feeling of accomplishment because it means I’ve been doing my job flawlessly and that it has reached this state.” ...

Jan 15 2023

January 15, 2023

in Humans of North

“I am from Erzirom. My husband and I work as blacksmiths for our livelihood and make sculptures to fulfill our dreams. I know everything related to iron. My profession is one of the hardest ones. Iron vibrates with love because it is heated by fire. They make me very happy. I have a unique view here. I try to create products that show the unity of nature and people. I also try to show the state of women in today's conditions. My main profession is fashion, but I bring fashion to life in a different way.” ...

Dec 13 2022

December 13, 2023