During a short visit to Beirut in May 2023, seven years after my exile to Europe, it was the first time I returned to the Middle East. I conducted various research on different topics, such as the state of the streets after the explosion, child labor, and family archives.
Om Khaled, a Syrian mother living in Paris. She has chosen to work from home, driven by her desire to feel valued. She skill- fully crafts items, such as hairbands, by hand.
“I’m here at home, and for me, crafting these hairbands is sim- ple and enjoyable. I’m good at it, so why is it so challenging to turn it into a business? My children often tell me to relax and read a book, wondering why I push myself so hard. But I can’t just sit idle; I need to work. It’s a part of who I am, and when I look at these beautiful creations, I can’t help but feel a sense of joy in making beautiful things.”
During our meeting, I spent an hour assisting her in setting up an online shop, only to discover that she doesn’t have a bank ac- count. She expressed, ‘I can do the work, but I don’t know what to do with it afterwards.’ Despite her years of creating these beautiful hairbands, she has never managed to sell anything.
For VII Academy
My Family In Diaspora.
This year, we were able to reunite with my family in Erbil after 7 years of separation. We gathered there because my aunt moved to Erbil a few years ago. We live in France, and my cousin lives in Germany. My grandmother joined us from Syria, along with my uncle and another aunt. Erbil, May 2023.