Humans of West - Humans of Kurdistan

“My name is Firas Alou, and I’m 24 years old. I left my village "Ahras" when ISIS took control of it in 2015. Then, the city of Afrin became my refuge and my new destination for continuing my education. I stayed and became more in love with her than with my hometown. I studied at Afrin University, and my dream was to carry out a photoshoot session for traditional Kurdish dresses at the Prophet Hori Archaeological Castle once I graduate. The ramifications of war did not allow for this, as I was once again forced to flee after Turkey occupied Afrin in 2018. Four years later, I continued my education in the city of Qamishli. I was able to achieve a small part of my dream not in Afrin, though, but rather in Qamishli by conducting a photoshoot in front of the symbol of Prophet Hori Castle in the city”. ...

Aug 11 2022

July 6, 2022

by Sartip Vim

“My name is Qadri Sharbatchi; I was born in Aleppo and am 70 years old. Sixty years ago, when I was ten years old, I used to sell sweets with my grandfather. When he passed away, I kept working in this profession and did not want it to discontinue. Later, I made a small wood wagon and sold sweets in the city bazaar. I love this profession because I grew up doing it, and I also have implored my children never to abandon it. Now that I have gotten older, I cannot make the sweets myself and sell them too, so instead, my children make them, and I sell them in the bazaar. Everyone at the bazaar loves me; they return daily for my sweets, for I keep them immaculate”. ...

Aug 11 2022

August 7, 2022

by Sartip Vim

“I’m 60 years old and live with my sick mother in Ma’shwq village, Tarbesbeh subdistrict. In the village, they call me “The Kurdish Girl” because I always wear traditional Kurdish clothes, and sometimes I sew them myself. In the year 2000, I went to Europe, and I saw how the European care about their history; when I came back in 2005, I decided to collect and preserve antiques. As for now, I purchase old antiques and display them in a shop that has become an exhibition for hundreds of historical pieces, and sometimes I go to the villages and collect new pieces from there. My father is Kurdish, and my mother is Syriac; in this regard, I keep a balance between the Syriac and Kurdish pieces that I collect. I opened this exhibition to prevent the loss of our rich and old history”. ...

Mar 09 2022

March 9, 2022

“I grew up in Qamishli in an artist family who were skilled at musical instruments. When I was a child, my father bought me a small Saz and I learned how to play it from my family. I still have it. Now I can play all the stringed instruments, but Clarinet is my favorite instrument. In the beginning, I was watching music bands on YouTube and there was someone who was playing Clarinet, and that made me buy a Clarinet and learn to play it. I am currently a member of the Butan Group and Wilayat Studio for Art. I have participated in a number of songs and national events such as Newroz. Later I recorded a song and it went viral. Art is food for the soul. It is something that I can’t get away from”. ...

Feb 20 2022

February 20, 2022

“My name is Roshn, I’m 19-years-old and I’m from Qamishli. I work in the field of child training and psychological support in an organization dedicated to the rights of children and women. I was 12-years-old when I first started this job. My mother and I were the founders of the organization. I did a project to support children’s mental health during war. Four autistic children received treatment and their conditions improved through the program I prepared, in addition to several other children who recovered. I currently hold meetings and training courses to raise women’s awareness. And I teach courses at the camp that houses families of Islamic State (ISIS) members where we are working to counter the extremist ideology of the ISIS women through the awareness sessions. I’m proud of myself for having done so much humanitarian work. According to the autonomous administration’s statistics, I’m the youngest volunteer in the humanitarian field at the regional level”. ...

Feb 06 2022

February 6, 2022

“I’m 12-years-old, I grew up in an educated family and I’m still growing up. I love writing and reading. I was very happy when I participated in the annual Harkul Book Fair as the head of the children's book section. Because of my love for reading, my father recently opened a library named after me for children’s books, aiming to revitalize the culture of reading among children. We bring most of the Kurdish books from Duhok and some from Amed in northern Kurdistan. Most of our books are Kurdish so that Kurdish children can get to know their culture. Our project is new and has not been done in this area before, but I am sure we will reach our goal and further develop the library until reading becomes a culture for children”. ...

Jan 16 2022

January 16, 2022

“I am afraid of people.I am afraid of what man hides behind his face mask. My name is Ezzat Habash, and I am 49 years old. I have spent many years abroad, and I have learned and met many women. Fear is always present in my heart before I get to know anyone, because the sincerity of a person is not revealed through kind words, or innocent features. Therefore, we should always be careful during meeting new people." ...

Sep 21 2021

September 21, 2021

“Back in the day, the Syrian regime did not accept Kurdish education. Anyone who would study Kurdish would get seized or abducted. This is what my father used to inform me of when I was a child. But with the beginning of the revolution in Rojava, the foundation of establishments and agencies, and evicting the Syrian regime in 2012, the procedures for teaching the Kurdish curriculum were initiated, and I started learning in Kurdish. I did my utmost to succeed with the support of my family because my parents were teachers. I was successful in my Baccalaureate assessments and received first place in the city of Qamishli. At the present moment, I am studying medicine at Rojava University in Qamishli, with the intent to help the people of my city”. ...

Sep 20 2021

September 20, 2021

“My father was the mosque’s Imam. Since I grew up in a religious family, I walked in their footsteps and studied Islamic Law during my adolescent years. Later on, I became an Imam. But 70 years ago, in light of my liking and passion for fixing clocks, I decided to open a shop and provide for myself. My father once told me, “My son, I know you very well, you do not take money from people in return for your hands’ exhaustion. This will cause financial damage.” But I told him that even if I don’t receive money, I will open a store and serve people. Therefore, my father agreed, and I have started this work ever since until now. After my father’s death, I returned so I could become an Imam, from then on up until today, I fix clocks and work as an Imam in a mosque as well. Now, my eyes are getting frail and that has weakened my business, but even so, I still keep going. I have surpassed various conditions but stayed committed to my job, my identity, and my work as the mosque’s Imam remained”. ...

Aug 31 2021

August 31, 2021

“I was a school principal for more than 40 years. Our salary was very little at the time, and regardless of that, I did not quit working. I was teaching because of my passion for it. In 2019, the army of the Muslims who operated under the Turkish flag entered Serê Kaniyê and demolished the village. We had to migrate and move locations. My condition worsened when I moved to a camp. I had nothing left with me. Our village was destroyed and I strayed far from it. I was old and have so many long-term illnesses that I cannot even leave the tent. I reminisce about my youth very often. I have had illnesses for 20 years. I have married twice but God did not grant me any children. Despite that, I believe in God and say, “Thank you, God”. ...

Aug 28 2021

August 28, 2021