Student Profiles: Hamrin
Hamrin was only 8 when she fled Syria. Her dad left his job at a publication house and her family made the taxing journey across borders until they ended up in Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan. Hamrin’s family rented a small apartment, but quickly ran into financial strains when the family couldn’t find work in the city. After a year it was impossible to stay in the city they so desperately wanted to make as their new home. They packed up their belongings for a second time and trekked to Arabat, where they have now lived for seven years. Hamrin’s parents created active lives for themselves in the camp, with her dad working in an electricity generation board factory and her mom volunteering for the UNHCR.
Hamrin was 16 when she started at Hello Future. She came to the first day of class with an intensity in her eyes and a notebook in her hand. She led with her inherent curiosity, asking questions throughout every session. Her eagerness to learn sometimes preceded her ability to structure her thoughts resulting in rambling questions. Throughout her time with Hello Future, Hamrin has yet to miss a session. She is an active participant in group discussions, providing thoughtful insights to prompts. She often stays after class to ask questions to the teachers and discuss the material with other students. Her enthusiasm to learn rubs off on her classmates. Hamrin’s mere presence encourages her peers to work harder, consider the unknown, and use their insights in the classroom.
“Although many people in my society tell me that having a business is something for only men, I want to keep persuing my dream until I achieve it. My message to every girl: don’t be ordinary. Be unique in everything. Be everything you want to be.”
In our Spring 2020 International Youth Hackathon, Hamrin and her team identified that a number of their peers want to be doctors, but lack the exposure to understand the scope of medicine. They also recognized that most families live with at least one elder and probably one other family member in poor health. The team created a plan to bring a local doctor to Arabat to lead a first aid training class. This class will hopefully help students find a passion for medicine and learn the skills to help their loved ones in times of need.
Much of Hamrin’s work ethic comes from her love of art. She can always be found doodling, studying the foundations of art, and creating her own unique style. After learning the basics of entrepreneurship in our 101 class, Hamrin realized her artistic talents could help her create a business. She now aspires to create an art-based business in Arabat. Hamrin actively works towards her goal by teaching herself about entrepreneurship and considering the demand for art services in the camp. Her new business idea drives much of her ambition in and outside the classroom.
Few women in Arbat are businesswomen, leaving people like Hamrin without a female mentor. The entrepreneurial gender gap has persisted far too long in communities like Arbat and Hamrin hopes to be one of the many women to bring a business to the camp. With her passion and commitment, Hamrin can become a role model for young girls in Arbat.