My name is Heva Shukri Mustafa. I’m 17 years old, and I came to Iraq in March 2013 when my family had to flee the war in Syria. I was just about three years old at the time. Since then, I’ve lived in Erbil. I don’t remember anything from before — Erbil is all I’ve known.
When we first arrived in Iraq, life was very difficult. We faced many challenges, and our financial situation was tough — and it still is today. We moved from one farm to another, trying to survive. In the beginning, we worked on a farm where the work was physically exhausting. My parents both worked while my siblings were still very young — the oldest was only 12 at the time. During that period, my mother also gave birth. Later, we moved to Kirkuk, where we lived and worked in a generator station. We were nine of us sharing one small room inside the station. The constant loud noise from the generator made it almost impossible to sleep, and the room was filled with electric wires and breaker cables. One day, a wire snapped and fell onto the metal door. I didn’t know it was live, and when I touched the door, I was electrocuted. Thankfully, nothing serious happened.
Despite all this, the community around us was very kind and respectful — everyone we met was good to us. Today, we are no longer living in a refugee camp, but it is still complicated to find stable jobs for my family.
When I saw a post on Facebook about the Women for Women International program for adolescent girls, I took the number and signed up. Joining the training was one of the best things I’ve done. I had fun, made friends I truly love, and I learned so much — especially about hair styling and makeup, which I really enjoy. We also learned about reproductive health, personal hygiene, and other important topics that affect my everyday life.
I’ve been out of school for a year now. Because of family and social pressures, the decision was made to stay at home. So, I spend most of my time at home — styling my sisters’ and cousins’ hair and reading poetry. I love poetry. I even write my own poems in Arabic. I’ve always dreamed of becoming a writer — or maybe an engineer, or a hairdresser.
Since I left school, I’ve been afraid for my future, I feel like my dreams are slipping away. But Women for Women program helped me a lot during this time.
But since I left school, I’ve been afraid for my future. Without a diploma, I feel like my dreams are slipping away. The Women for Women program helped me a lot during this time. It gave me something to look forward to, something just for me. It reminded me that I still have potential, even if my path looks different now.
I have learned the importance of mental health. For example, one day I convinced my sister-in-law to come with me to visit my cousin — just to see someone new, to go out for a little while so we could refresh our minds. I spend so much time at home that it’s easy to feel stuck and anxious. About half the girls I know aren’t in school either.
So, programs like Women for Women’s program become our alternative — a safe space to learn, to meet other girls like me, to hope.
Because I’m home most of the time, I also help care for my younger sisters. If life were ideal, I’d be in school right now, studying with friends, and planning for the future. I don’t want to get married young. I dream of working, but my brothers are very protective and won’t let me work. I understand why — the streets here aren’t always safe for girls, and there are risks of harassment. That’s why I chose to stay close to home for now.
Still, I help my sisters with their schoolwork, even in subjects above my grade. What makes things a little easier is that our whole extended family came to Iraq together. We live close to each other, and that closeness brings some comfort.
At home, while I’m doing chores, I love listening to music — my sisters joke that I could listen for twenty hours straight! I also have a surprising habit: I only eat vegetarian food. I don’t like meat at all, which is strange for my family!
Before I end, I want to share a short poem I wrote:
Between the pages of a book I find myself flying,
Wandering through time and imagination,
discovering new worlds,
and learning lessons hidden in words —
There I find a companion and a friend.