VOICES FROM OUR BACK TO LIFE PROJECT

Weaam Ibrahim Hassan

My name is Weaam. I’m 16 years old and from Sinjar. I have been living in Sharya Camp for ten years now. Recently, I participated in a three-month English course taught by Mrs. Nareen from HÁWAR.help. The course covered relevant English language skills such as grammar, speaking, listening, and writing. Learning new words and expanding my vocabulary was particularly exciting because it helped me to express myself better. It was challenging at first, but I kept practicing, which helped me overcome my shyness. The course motivated me and ensured that I became more confident when speaking English by giving me the tools to communicate with people and providing me with practice opportunities.  Overall, the experience was challenging but rewarding.

After finishing the course, I received a certificate from HÁWAR.help. Now, I can help my family when they need help translating words from English. I am also doing well at school and can communicate and share my ideas more clearly with my teacher in class.  

I have a lot of hope, because I always wanted to achieve something in life – one of my dreams is to have the opportunity to teach and support people in my community by establishing a language institute. I want to thank HÁWAR.help for their support and for offering wonderful courses, as well as our teacher Mrs. Nareen for all her guidance and effort.

Ahlam Jamal Mirza

My name is Ahlam, I have six children and work as a seamstress. I live in Sharya camp and took part in a HÁWAR.help sewing course at their BACK TO LIFE Women’s Empowerment Center in the camp. During the course, my trainer Mrs Nazik taught me the basics of using a sewing machine and how to create Kurdish dresses, suits, and party dresses. She taught me everything, and I gained a lot through her support and excellent management of the class. She also taught us designs and, day by day, would provide us with increasingly complex designs so that we could learn more about clothing and decoration. After three months, I was given the certificate and was awarded a sewing machine for being the second-best student.

I’ve taken a lot of classes, but nobody has helped us out as much as Mrs. Nazik did. I now work as a seamstress and am able to earn a living for my family. I wanted to be a tailor, and Mrs. Nazik made it happen. In the future, I hope to improve my workspace and attract more clients. I am grateful to Mrs. Nazik and the rest of the HÁWAR.help team for supporting numerous individuals in attaining new knowledge and skills in order for them to support themselves and their families.

Afrah Shamo Khalaf

My name is Afrah and I’m 13 years old. I’ve spent almost my entire life in Qadiya camp, which can sometimes make the world feel small. But I’ve always believed that education is the key to a bigger, brighter future. Despite the challenges of camp life, I’ve dedicated myself to learning, and participated in several courses at the HÁWAR.help BACK TO LIFE Women’s Empowerment Center, including Arabic, English, and computer skills. Each course has opened new doors for me.  

Living in the camp isn’t easy, but it won’t stop me. When I first heard about the computer course, I registered right away. The course felt like a window to the world outside, and I was so happy when I learned how to download videos and songs. Even something as simple as changing the background of the computer made me feel empowered—it was a way to express my personality and make the computer feel like my own.  

Now, I’m using the skills I’ve gained to teach my siblings how to use the computer. I want people my age to start using technology because it’s essential for the future. I’m so grateful that I got this chance to discover my abilities, and I’m proud to be able to share what I’ve learned with others. Education has given me hope, and I believe that if we work hard, we can achieve anything, no matter where we come from.  

I love spending time at the center and being recognized as one of the top students on the course was a proud moment, but the true reward was the hope and confidence I gained through this journey. Thanks to the trainers at HÁWAR.help and the opportunities they’ve provided, I’ve gained confidence and uncovered abilities I never knew I had.

Thank you to Auswärtiges Amt for supporting BACK TO LIFE.