Your name is part of your identity, part of who you are, and how you first introduce yourself. 

When I first spoke to Husam, he introduced himself as Sam, and when I asked him why he changed his name he said: “I started going by Sam back in 2019, mainly because I started meeting some foreign people and it was easier for them to say Sam, but I still was in a mostly Arabic community and most people called me Husam. Now that I live in the Netherlands, Husam is even harder for people to say, so Sam was easier. Plus, I feel like the name Sam fits me better than Husam Eddin.” 

Sam left Syria at nine years old, carrying with him his country, his given name, and a handful of memories. From one country to another, Sam and his family went on a search for a place they can call home. 

After spending three years in a small town in Jordan, Sam and his family moved to Turkey in 2015 to start a new life. In Turkey, he learned English and Turkish and met a lot of different people who he later called friends. 

In 2019, Sam’s father left Turkey and moved to the Netherlands, and two years later, they followed him there. 

During their time in Turkey, Sam joined Karam House, a place he called “special.” “Sure, at Karam I learned the dynamics of how to think like a successful entrepreneur or how to capture a scene as a true film director would, but I also learned about myself. I feel like I can make a difference not just in my own personal life, but in the world.” 

Sam became interested in filmmaking at the age of 15. “I saved up money from my allowance and bought my first-ever computer. I downloaded editing software and started filming and editing my own videos. But I never got to publish them anywhere.” 

Taking studios at Karam House strengthened Sam’s knowledge of filmmaking, “At Karam House, it became more of a storytelling. It made my passion stronger for filmmaking.
Now I can make someone feel something or hear someone’s story in one minute. Make someone feel emotion through a piece of content that is not necessarily a big Hollywood movie, just a kid with a camera.” 

Currently, Sam is learning Dutch and taking preparation courses for college. Because of his constant move from one country to another, school in the Netherlands refused his papers, leaving Sam defeated. But he gathered his portfolio with all the studios he had completed at Karam House and shared what he had learned and the skills he had gained. “They were very impressed with the work that I’ve done at Karam House, that after denying me, they decided to enroll me. I got into school because I had a Karam House diploma.” 

Sam said that Karam is an important part of his life. There, he met many friends and they became best friends despite the distance. “Karam House put me in a community I’ve been searching for. A community that I fit in. I am a creative person and wanted to be around creative people.” 

Giving back to the community is very important to Sam. When he finally settled in the Netherlands, he volunteered at an Asylum Center, De vrolijkheid, which is the first stop for refugees when they arrive in the country. He wanted to make the youth at the center feel seen and important because their stories mattered. He volunteered with a group of people including a Dutch filmmaker where they made a video with the young adults. “The idea behind it was for them to make a video about their lives, what they do, and what it meant to be a refugee in the asylum center.” The short film was called Glow in The Dark, and it premiered in local cinemas. 

For the young men and women who are going through or have gone through similar experiences as Sam, he wants to say, “Yes, it’s hard, I know, and whatever you’re trying to do may seem impossible, but due to our circumstances, we have to work twice as hard— maybe more. Maybe it’s not fair, but that’s just the way it is. Whether that is by learning a completely new language or having to adjust to new cultures and places. In the end, you can find yourself within that culture and live the best of both worlds.”