WATCH: Foreign artists bring hope to children at Syrian-Kurdish refugee camp

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Amid the chaos of war and displacement, the lives of Syrian Kurdish refugees at a camp in the Kurdistan Region is showered with color and hope for a brighter future.

Four volunteer artists from abroad have visited the Kawergosk Camp in the Kurdistan Region capital of Erbil where Kurdish refugees from Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) reside.

The artists, two from Portugal and two from Brazil, have come a long way to express the principles of hope and life through a painting on the wall of the refugee camp.

The initiative was done in coordination with the Pathfinders Club, a project at the Kawergosk Camp.

“We are painting this wall here in Kawergosk Camp. This is a part of a connection between the Pathfinder Club which is happening here at the [camp] for almost one year and a half, and these are volunteers that came from Portugal, and they are painting this project,” a volunteer at the camp told Kurdistan 24.

The artists say their goal is to bring life and color to the camp and give hope, especially to the children so they can experience the bright side of life, overcome their obstacles, and become successful in the future.

“We are here to serve the people,” one of the artists, Liya, stated. “I do hope that with this project, especially the youth, they will feel motivated to do something with their lives because this is not the end, this is the beginning of something.”

The inspiration for the mural is of a Syrian girl and includes other symbols as well. The volunteers say they want to make the color and art visible for the children at the camp.  

“Our idea [is] to show hope. I know that they are living here in these conditions and I know that it’s difficult for them,” another one of the artists, Eld, said.

“We want to bring this idea that with unity, if they work together, if they work as a community there is hope and they can have a future.”

Ever since the Kurdistan Region opened these camps, many volunteers have visited from abroad to provide different activities and programs.

These artists are like many volunteers before them who have visited camps in Kurdistan to bring joy and happiness to the refugees.

(Additional reporting by Kurdistan 24 correspondent Chiman Adil)