Humans of Kurdistan
The "Humans Of Kurdistan" project aims to present the cultural diversity of the country. A look at the faces but also the stories that lie behind each of them.

November 14, 2020

“I had just graduated college studying nursery, I started working at a COVID19 testing center. I got a phone call while I was busy conducting a test for a woman, I never answer phone calls while on the job, but I had a bad feeling that day, as if I was waiting for someone to deliver bad news. I answered the phone and someone told me to get to the hospital immediately, my father had gotten worse. My father had been in a hospital for 8 months, we were waiting for him to get better. When I got the news, the phone fell from my hands, I wished the lady a good health and went out. I went to the hospital quickly, and went in through the emergency door where my father was, I saw my mother with her white hair screaming and hitting her chest, I understood that my father had passed away, and I was late. I want to continue working, and continually watch the patients who have had a stroke. I am sad to see all these years come and go without my father.” ...

November 13, 2020

“I have been working as an environment keeper for several years, I started doing this work due to the increase in environment pollution. I first started alone, cleaning our village and the surrounding areas. Then, we started working as a group, at the same time, to build an environment keeping culture, so I started an environment challenge where people started challenging each other to clean their spaces. Thankfully, many people from Balakayaty and Erbil, and other areas participated. I also started organizing seminars about the environment voluntarily. I have organized many seminars for all classes around Kurdistan, as well as seminars for 500 students. I have also participated in several conferences, and have received many certifications from environmental programs.” ...

November 11, 2020

“My life is all about sports. I first started at high school, playing football and running, and I was very good at it. Then, I stared playing for Soran's youth center, and that was a good start for my football career. I played for the young teams of Soran and Halo, and also participated in tournaments for Choman and Halo as a runner and got good results. I didn't stop there, I played in Italy and Greece with good results. I had more potential than just playing one or two sports, so I was able to get a teaching certificate for Chess and football, and badminton as well. I also have an international certificate in hiking. My biggest dream is to participate in international tournaments and show Kurdistan's flag to the world.” ...

November 9, 2020

“I have tried many jobs and am still trying. I laugh a lot and get angry very few, life is really difficult here, I have gone through a lot. There might have been times when I could just leave, but why leave? I believe that wherever you live, you'll still have problems in life. The best kind of living is to laugh a lot, if you don't laugh enough and don't try to go through your pain, being sad will not solve your problems. I think a lot before sleeping at night, sometimes my thoughts make me smile, sometimes they make me cry. Less fortunate people know that life is not infinite, so I will laugh as much as I can.” ...

November 6, 2020

“After the 1991 run away and the civil war, Kurds in general were living in bad conditions, especially the young people, where all of their dreams were crashed. At that time, I wrote some texts for (Rashwan Shekhani) the artist. His songs were like weed back then, it calmed people down. I am a descendant of (Shekh Jami), it was unprecedented for me to write a text for something like "there was no message, or a news from you, why did you do that?", I remember when I first played the songs to my father and told him the texts were mine, he slapped me and told me that I should be ashamed because I am a descendant of the Shekh. Art was so great to me that my even my father humiliating me couldn't stop me from getting deeper into art. A long time has passed now, but I'm still proud of those songs I wrote as a Shekh.” ...

November 5, 2020

"I'm now a senior in Agriculture college, when I was first accepted to college as a twenty years old girl from the cold mountainous areas of Balakayaty going to Hawler, it was very difficult. Getting used to the busy city was very hard compared to the calmness of Balakayaty. It is worth mentioning that having family and closed ones nearby really helped there, but in Hawler, I must take care of everything myself. In addition, there were several other things that made me stressed out and made me ask myself whether it was really me in the middle of that busy city. Nevertheless, I have been able to get used to things by making connections, and now the city has become a big part of my life and I love it here. I now miss the place whenever I get away. I used to think that I can't stay here for four weeks, let alone four years." ...

November 3, 2020

“My dream was to work in the media. When I graduated high school, all of my family were against me studying in the media. The closer college applications got, the more I was nervous, thinking how I can convince my family. I remember they were all against me except for one of my friends. Only that friend supported me and made me even more determined on my goal, and eventually, my big brother started supporting me as well. One thing that I tell my colleagues is that success does not depend on your position at work, but it depends on your desires and goals, I always say go for what your heart tells you and what you desire. I'm now a senior studying in media, I passed every year being the third of my class, and I work as a reporter. The people who were against me and were telling me that I can't do it now can see that I can, I can even do more.” ...

November 1, 2020

“I was very young when I got married, a lot of people thought that I was wrong getting married so young, but I never regret it and I am very happy with my life. When I go anywhere with my kids, people think they are my younger siblings because I look much younger than a father with two kids. I'm very happy that I am still young and I see my son growing up. That was the reason I got married young, I wanted my children to grow with me. Marriage is one of the pillars in life and you will have to do it soon or later, so I believe that as long as you are strong you should decide to do it.” ...

October 31, 2020

“I am a descendant of Mshko the singer, and I am very proud of my grandfather because the respect we get from people especially in Hawler is because of him mostly. It appears that older artists were highly respected unlike this generation's artists. You can see that most people don't even recognize the artists. People whose ages are as my grandfather's and are still alive tell me that I look like him the most, and this is why they really like me. It is strange that I really do look like him, but unfortunately can't sing like him.” ...

October 30, 2020

“I have been selling flowers for two years, I had no idea that every color has a different meaning, but I now even recognize their smell as well as their colors. I can recognize any house's atmosphere by the look of their flowers. I want to see flowers anywhere I go. When I started selling flowers, I hadn't gotten married. People were visiting me every day buying flowers for their events, especially the ones that were buying flowers for their lovers, they were very interesting to me. Now I'm married, I often give my wife flowers to show her how much I love her, and I buy the flowers from myself, that's how I value both the flower and my wife. I love my wife very much, at the same time, I love my flowers.” ...

October 30, 2020

“I knew that education wasn't made for me, so I decided to quit school and start working. Initially, I was working for a barber and I liked cutting hair myself. I continued working until I was able to open a barber shop, but I had to close it down after a while due to some problems. I tried other jobs, but none of them worked out, they were not what I expected. Then, I decided to move out of the country illegally, and again I faced many obstacles that stopped me from going. Then I went back to my first job and once again I was able to open another barber shop. I have a lot of goals I want to achieve, at the same time there are a lot of obstacles, but I will never stop, I will keep going. The most important thing is to constantly remind yourself that you can do it.” ...

October 27, 2020

“I have been a barber for more than 11 years. Most of my relatives and even myself have learned to cut hair from one of my brothers. I alone have taught about 80 people, and despite the fact that it makes me very happy to teach people, I have done it also for the sake of God. I am also very happy that my students have been loyal to me; when I visit them, they still treat me as their teacher and are even a bit shy when I watch them working. I have never told a customer how much money I want or tell them what they have given me is not enough. I am convinced of whatever I get, and I believe that what I have earned is due to how I have been content with what I have.” ...