Dreams of becoming an engineer, currently a journalist in refugee camp.Thoughts he wishes to convey in the Zaatari refugee camp.
Living in the Zaatari refugee camp, Baragash journals life living inside such an environment. After having his dreams of becoming an engineer taken away by the war, we spoke with Baragash to listen to the stories he wants to tell.
Mohamed Ahmed Barghash
Distoributer
Born in Syria, currently resides as a refugee in the Zaatari camp. Works as editing “The Road”, a magazine aimed at those living within the camp.
Dreaming to be an engineer
I was born in Mahaja, a town in the Daara region of Syria. Being an only child, I was raised in an overprotective environment. Always feeling as though if being watched so as not to get into any trouble, I felt a lack of freedom in a strict upbringing.
When young I was often quietly studying. Sometimes I would go hiking with my family, or connect with my friends via email, but I remember having to put up with a lot as a child.
I recall wanting to become an engineer. Being surrounded by technology such as televisions, cellphones, computers, these were all essential parts of daily life. I too wanted to make things that would make daily life easier.
I especially see smartphones as particularly outstanding tools, having such a wide breadth of information at the touch of your fingertips. More complicated matters may necessiate a laptop, but for everyday life a smartphone would more than suffice.
Another influence was my uncle, who also worked as an engineer. If he could become an engineer, I felt that it was in my blood that I too would be gifted with the same talent.
To achieve this dream I studied hard in school, especially in high school where we had computer classes once a week. I was always top of the class, and I always looked forward to these classes. Fortunately excelling in other classes as well, upon graduating high school I managed to obtain entrance to a college with an engineering program.
That was when the civil war in Syria gained violence, and I was forced to flee temporarily to Jordan. That was in 2013, when I was 18.
Teaching children the importance of studying
When I first came to Jordan, I was filled with fear and trepidation. I could hardly imagine living in a place where I knew nobody, and I was scared. Having relatives in Jordan I thought I could ask for help, but when that proved difficult I ended up coming to the Zaatari refugee camp.
Everyday life was a hardship within the camp. Being used to the greenery and natural beauty of my homeland, the expanse of desert and sand made me sad and homesick. The camp was not properly maintained without running water and bathroom facilities, and lacking money I often suffered.
I felt as though I had left my home, friends and family, and my dreams in Syria. Faced with a new life where I had to start over with nothing, I was saddened and angered as I constantly thought about life back in Syria.
Despite the circumstances I still had to support my mother and family, so I changed my mindset and searched for any kind of work. But work in a refugee camp proved scarce, with people around me all in a similar situation.
However, doing nothing would leave me with my own negative thoughts, so to change circumstances I started volunteer work at Save the Children, an NGO that supports within the refugee camp. This NGO is aimed at children with various schooling programs, and I was in charge of dropping off and picking up the children to and from the school.
Occasionally there would be parents who were hesitant in letting their children go to school, but that was when we emphasized the importance of studying. Living in a refugee camp, time could simply pass by doing nothing. Without education, the children would not be able to develop their own futures upon returning to Syria. I myself knew the importance of education with my own history of studying hard while living in Syria. Eventually after safely escorting the children, I was able to gain the trust and consent of those worried parents.
Delivering hope through a story
After a while, I started to volunteer at not only Save the Children but other NGOs as well. One of these was working on a magazine called “The Road”, aimed at those living in refugee camps. Organized by an NGO called JEN, it centered on people living in said refugee camps, with planning, interviewing, and editing all done by refugees. It also worked in job and experience training.
This was the first of its kind in the Zaatari camp, spreading the word about what was happening in the Zaatari camp, and what kind of people were living here. Through delivering stories about various people, we wanted refugees living in the camp to gain confidence. Upon returning to Syria in the future, we wanted people to see the opportunities and the life that still laid ahead of them. That was the vision I had upon volunteering with making the magazine
After training, I too would start planning out and writing articles. Much of the subjects would come from the discontent that the refugees were experiencing within the camp. One time a resident voiced the dissatisfaction he experienced with dentistry. Needing dental work they tried to get a reservation, but hospitals were booked for several months, let alone one. They were kept waiting, but the pain they felt would not.
Moreover, upon visiting the hospital they found the doctor to be nowhere, and told to “Come back next week”. Even when they were treated, they would only receive a fraction of the treatment they needed, necessitating multiple visits. If the hospitals were not open that couldn’t be helped, but they were with no reason as to why they could not receive proper treatment.
Upon writing an article about this state, there was a lot of feedback. Apparently many people had been thinking similarly within the camp, and there was a lot of support from readers. The article also caught the attention of an NGO, and the state of dental treatment was investigated.
As a result, what was written proved to be true, and with the help of support groups the state of dental treatment was greatly improved. To the point where if you needed dental treatment, you could be treated within the day or the next.
Keep on chasing dreams
Currently I work at Save the Children on a salary, while volunteering at “The Road”. As part of the editorial team, I work as supervisor of delivering to Area 3 of the Zaatari refugee camp, so I also work in lecturing youth.
Working as supervisor, residents often consult me with issues and discontent they feel need to be brought up in the magazine, giving us subject matter and investigations to discuss.
My hope is that more young people read the magazine, and learn more about various topics and issues. Through this, I wish to instil the confidence to see the opportunities and dreams they can achieve.
I myself have not given up on my dreams of becoming an engineer upon returning to Syria in the near future. It might be a start from nothing all over again, but I am willing to work towards what will be the rest of my life.
Mohamed Ahmed Barghash
Distoributer
Born in Syria, currently resides as a refugee in the Zaatari camp. Works as editing “The Road”, a magazine aimed at those living within the camp.
