Kabira's Story

One day the bombs started – we were so worried for our own safety and for our children. We didn’t know where to go, Afrin was also under siege so we had nowhere to go. We took as much as we could carry and found a minibus that was travelling to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). 

It was a very hazardous journey, the minibus was fired at from all directions; there were missiles, explosions and gun fire.

I was thinking that if I die I want her to die with me, I don’t want my children to be taken by Daesh.

The driver was injured and taken to hospital, but we were determined to leave so another driver replaced him and we kept going.

I was most worried for my daughter. She was just three years old at that time. I made her sit under my seat – I was thinking that if I die I want her to die with me, I don’t want my children to be taken by Daesh (ISIS).

We arrived in Qamishli, close to the border with Iraq, but the conflict was fierce, with government forces, opposition and jihadis. We drove to the border with the KRI, and the Kurdish Army helped us to cross the border. I kissed the soil of the KRI – it was safety.

A taxi driver took us from Duhok to Erbil, where my sister was staying. He took advantage of the fact we were vulnerable and stole some of our possessions.

Being at home was incredibly boring and soul destroying. I’m not one for staying at home as a house wife; at home in Syria I was active all the time.

When we arrived in Erbil, people in the neighbourhood helped us a lot, I was so touched by their kindness. They helped my husband find a job.

At first I did not go outside the house; I didn’t speak the language so my husband would fetch everything we needed and I stayed at home doing housework.

Being at home was incredibly boring and soul destroying. I’m not one for staying at home as a house wife; at home in Syria, I was active all the time. I first heard about Women for Women International from Amina, a trainer on the programme. She told me about the programme and I enrolled – I am so pleased to be here.

Being with other women who have been through a similar experience makes me very happy, calm and relaxed. Sharing our stories, listening to other women and sharing ideas helped us to become friends. This is one of the best things about the Women for Women International Programme.

We are so grateful for what the people of the KRI have given us: we have come to peace and tranquillity after experiencing such turbulence.

Taking part in the economic and social empowerment courses run by Women for Women International has improved my self-confidence. When I moved to the KRI, I felt the need to wear the long traditional dress because people in my neighbourhood didn’t like me wearing jeans, saying it was ‘haram’ (forbidden in Islam). Now I think I am who I am; I am no longer trying to please others.

We are so grateful for what the people of the KRI have given us: we have come to peace and tranquillity after experiencing such turbulence.

Our lives were in danger and we didn’t know if we would live from one minute to the next. We hope that we can return to where we lived before, without war, fear or persecution. We want to rebuild our lives and our country.

This blog was originally published in the Huffington Post on the 21st September 2018.