Mais is an Iraqi refugee living in Syria since 2006. She is very talented with a very beautiful singing voice. Graduated from Damascus University, Faculty of Dentistry in 2015, she won a university scholarship for a master’s degree in Maxillofacial surgery in Damascus.
“I wish that one day I can teach students around the world and can establish a hospital for Maxillofacial Surgery.”
“My dream is to finish my higher education and get a Masters degree with honors. I wish that one day I can teach students around the world and can establish a hospital for Maxillofacial Surgery.”, she says.
Mais, 26-year-old, who participated this year in the World Refugee Day event in Damascus and sang for Baghdad and for peace in the world. According to her, singing takes her out of the daily challenges and brings her hope and feeds her dreams.
“Music is a great relief and escape for me that takes me to a magical world where there are no problems”
“Music is a great relief and escape for me that takes me to a magical world where there are no problems”, she says.
She had to leave Iraq together with her family without obtaining her high school diploma to seek safety in Syria, but she never abandoned her aspiration of continuing her education and achieving her dreams. Despite being a refugee, Mais studied hard and showed how strong will and aspiration can turn things around for the best.
Funded by UNHCR in Syria, she was able to finish her five years study and she became a dentist. Likewise, being a distinguished student with excellent grades for five continuous years, this enabled her to register for a Masters of Maxillofacial surgery at Damascus University. Nevertheless, this isn’t enough for her to secure a future, as she lives in Syria, a war-torn country.
“I prefer to go to another country to pursue my dreams and for a new beginning, to gain new expertise, and discover the world”, she says.
According to Mais, suffering started from the first day of fleeing her house. It is the suffering of separation and many challenges she faced, living in a new environment. All those horrible memories seeing many explosions and dead people on the way to school.
During her participation in the World Refugee Day event, she sent a message to the world to stand with refugees,
“The world should work together for refugees, a lot of people lost everything but we should not lose our dreams, our ambitious and our hopes’, she continues, “We have to be part of the peace process in the world.”
Educated refugees like Mais can provide the leadership and vital skills needed to rebuild their lives. It is a fundamental building block of protection, especially for girls to make their dreams possible,
“The war destroyed my country but I will not allow it to destroy my future and my dreams, Mais said, “We should never give up our dreams, because then life will give up on us.”
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