Portrait of Souleiman, from Syria as part of the documentary “Moving Forward: Portraits of Refugee Students from Syria”
“My mom had a dream while being pregnant with me that she would give birth to a baby Suleiman who would become a dentist in the future. Years later, her dream became true… My family consists of five girls and four boys. Now, we live in different countries. I was born in Southern Syria. My relationship with my dad used to be very strong; I always compare it to the relationship between body and soul. I became a responsible person at the early age of 16. I was the manager of a computer center, a business that was owned by my dad. I felt as if my dad was preparing me for what is next to come, I mean my days after I would leave Syria. After finishing my high school, I joined the Faculty of Engineering, and I was doing Civil Engineering. I used to have big plans for my future and after graduation. Then, I lost everything! The WAR! Life has changed and everything was destroyed, my house, my neighborhood, my school, my university, everything. Then I came to Egypt and this is what I call the stage of maturity, painful maturity. Here I started from the scratch. I had nothing to support me except for 50 dollars. I did different jobs, part-time jobs in cafes, restaurants, and stores until I made money to join the university. I am one of the founders of the Syrian Students’ Union at Mansoura University, which serves mainly Syrian students in Mansoura. In addition, I volunteered in Khatwa Institution, and it is the biggest Syrian Educational Institution in Egypt. It offers help to Syrian refugees in Egypt. I helped in submitting the required documents of 70 Syrian students for admission in Cairo, Alexandria, Mansoura, and Damietta Universities. I am a third year student in the Faculty of Dentistry at one of the best universities in Egypt. I work for Art zone Company and I am preparing for my first art gallery, which is going to take place in Cairo. I am about to finish writing my first novel and then I wish I would be able to publish it. In spite of everything, in spite of all the hardships I have been through, in spite of losing communication with family and friends because of the war and in spite of the traumatic experiences I had to get through, life goes on and I still have hope. Whenever I feel depressed or annoyed because of what is happening in my country, I remember my mom and her dream and I work my hardest to achieve it. I will graduate from the Faculty of Dentistry in two years and then I will be Dr.Suleiman she has always dreamed of and will make her proud of me even if she is not here anymore to witness it.”
By Suleiman Mubarak,
©HOPES
