“The center welcomed me, and I have since trained over 20 young Iraqi students. After the training, I helped five of my students in need of work connect with jobs…”
I am a young Iraqi man, the eldest son of a widowed mother, with several younger brothers whom I support. Due to sectarian violence and post-conflict circumstances in Iraq, we moved to Syria four years ago, where I studied art and design at the Institute of Fine Arts in Syria. When conflict broke out in Syria, I moved to Jordan, where we were welcomed as refugees. In Jordan, I worked independently in painting and design, as well as in cosmetology in men’s salons.
I heard about the Bushra Center through my friends, who participated in health education sessions hosted by the center about sexually transmitted diseases. The sessions inform participants about the danger of unsafe sexual practices and how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
Later, I also learned that the Bushra Center offers vocational training in cosmetology for women and men. I offered my services as a trainer for these programs, to use my experience to teach Iraqi men essential beautician skills. The center welcomed me, and I have since trained over 20 young Iraqi students. After the training, I helped five of my students in need of work connect with jobs in men’s salons through my professional contacts.
The program helped me to strengthen my skills in the field of cosmetology as a professional and a trainer, and allowed me to participate in humanitarian work by helping at-risk youth find work opportunities and distance themselves from dangerous activities and environments.
I also volunteered for the center during Ramadan as part of a program to help poor and orphaned children by cutting and styling their hair free of charge, as well as distributing Iftar meals to vulnerable families. Today, I can consider myself an asset to my community, friends and relatives. I’m proud of myself and my work, and will always keep moving forward.
The Health Support for Iraqi and Syrian Refugees is funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration and implemented by IRD.
