When I was ten, my world collapsed—literally. My father was out with friends in Damascus when an airstrike hit. The blast sent a wall crashing down on them. He didn’t survive. I didn’t fully grasp what had happened, only that my life split into a ‘before’ and an ‘after.’ The...

When I first saw a post about Karam House on Instagram, I was sitting in my room, scrolling mindlessly, not expecting to find the very thing that would change my life. But there it was— a post showing kids building robots, laughing together, and having a good time. I paused,...

When I was seven years old, my father was killed in an airstrike. I still remember the moment we heard the news—how my world changed forever. My father’s death forced me to grow up quickly. As the eldest, I became responsible for my family. We stayed in our home in...

At 17, Bara’a Asleh stood on the cusp of graduation, looking back on a journey that had transformed her in ways she couldn’t have imagined. Growing up in a world marked by loss and displacement, she was once a shy girl who feared raising her hand in class, hesitant to...

When Mohamed was just 16, walking to a class he was taking in his small town, a group of boys approached him and pushed Mohamad to reveal where he was from. Innocently and proudly, he said he was from Syria, but the answer resulted in a brutal attack. The gang...

My name is Fatima Balkish, and I am 16 years old. I was born in Aleppo, Syria, and now I live in Reyhanli, Türkiye. When I first left Syria, I was only four years old. We moved to Kilis camp, and I vividly remember those early days. We were so...

My name is Abdullah Samie. I am originally from Idlib, Syria, and live in Reyhanli, Türkiye. I’ve been living here for approximately eight years. I came to Türkiye with my uncles. Because of a difficult situation back home, my father had to come to Turkiye first.  Shortly after, my uncles...

My name is Hisham Al Ahmad, and I'm 18 from Aleppo, Syria. I live in Reyhanli, Turkiye. My family and I have been here since I was eight years old. The journey to safety was not easy. When the situation in Aleppo became too dangerous, my dad made the difficult...

I'm Nassim Sabti; I’m 17 years old and in 11th grade. I am currently living in Reyhanli, Turkiye, with my family. I’m originally from Homs, Syria; my life took a drastic turn at the age of seven when the Syrian conflict forced me and my family to flee.  A Journey...

My name is Hanin Tlas, and at 16 years old, I can proudly say that I've come a long way from the challenges life threw at me. Two years ago, I found myself in Dar El Ehsan, an orphanage that became my new home. But my journey began before that,...

Amal Al Kurnazi, an 18-year-old from Idlib, Syria, is a testament to resilience and determination. Amidst life's challenges, Amal remains focused on her dreams and aspirations, fueled by her unwavering spirit Amal, a second-year student majoring in nutrition, comes from a family of seven—her parents and five siblings. However, their...

"All I remember from my trip from Idlib to Turkiye is the car ride. I was only eight years old when I left home." These words encapsulate the beginning of Abdullah Dwidari's extraordinary journey. Now 17 years old, Abdullah is a Karam House graduate whose life story has been transformed...

Azari’s Journey Into Safety  I lived in Syria for 16 years, I remember my neighborhood with all its details. Looking back, I lived a very happy life but I wasn’t aware of it. When one loses these blessings, it is when they realize that they had them.  I used to...

Wael joined Karam House on April 2021. One of the studios he has completed is “Automated Manufacturing” where he created Wall Arm. How was your experience returning to Karam House? When it was only online studios, I did not have a strong desire for it. But when I came to...

Sawsan joined Karam House in the summer of 2022. She has completed two studios including “The Extended Leg” a variable height shoe, used by groups of people that need access to different heights while carrying out their work, such as shopkeepers.  How was your experience returning to Karam House? It...