We were living in a small village. I was in 6th grade going to school. I had friends. We played football, we went to many classes. Life was good. Life was comfortable. We never thought there would be dangers to our life. We never heard about ISIS or terrorists.

We heard that ISIS was coming; everyone ran away to Shingal mountain. The mountain was near to us. Anybody who didn’t have a car just had to run away to the mountains. We are such a big family, I can’t even count. We all had two cars. So, someone in my family took some of us to the mountains and came back to take more. I was just a kid, so I didn’t know what was going on. I just ran away to this mountain with my family.

We heard a lot of stories from people who fled from the other side. ISIS was killing many people. They even attacked kids and women. We heard many things.

That night we stayed in the mountains. We didn’t have anything. It was so cold without blankets. It was like I was in a dream. I didn’t know what was happening.  We were so afraid. When I woke up, there were more families there- like 1,000 people on this mountain.At 10 am someone said ISIS cars were coming. When we saw ISIS was coming, all of us ran away. Like a wolf coming for the sheep. We fled the mountain and ran away.

The weather was so hot. We didn’t have a lot of water- only a small bottle. And we were such a big family. Everybody would just put some water on their lips. Then there were 5 ISIS cars in front of us. We didn’t know if the cars saw us or not. We were so afraid we could not move. We hid in another hole for about 45 minutes. After a while, those cars left.

On the way to Syria, my younger brother was scared; he couldn’t stand anymore. Sometimes he would faint because he was so tired from walking. Sometimes I held him, sometimes my father. My brothers and sisters were so young, but we just kept walking. It was a long way.

After arriving in Syria, Kuvan and his family learned it was not safe there either, so they made their way back to Kurdistan, Iraq.

I was in a tent; I was always in a bad mood. I was thinking ‘This is our life. Look at the people- how we’re living. Look at the other people- they have things I don’t have. We are going to live in this tent forever.’ It was so difficult. Before I came to the GROW program, my thoughts were in the wrong places. I was thinking in a different way. I was confused about life.  

Tutapona helps me to make strong thoughts about my life. Sure, there are some people that are better [off] than me, but I am good too. So many people have psychological problems and need these groups. 

I have only strong thoughts and good thoughts about my life. After I came to GROW, I feel full of peace. I trust myself more. I have a belief in God more. I’m feeling more comfortable and better.

Now, I know what to do. I’m depending on myself. I made goals for myself and I’m trying to reach my goals. I have one goal to finish school and go to college and go to work. Even if I don’t get into the college I want, I will go to a different medicine school to be a nurse.

I share my story because I want people to know what the people in Shingal saw and that people suffered. I want people to know what ISIS did to our people there. All the people suffered there and the mental health was so bad.

Thank you for this program. This program is useful for peoples’ mental health. I thank God I’m good now. I’m feeling peace.

-Kuvan

Because of the generosity of people like you, Kuvan* has found emotional healing. BUT there are thousands of people just like Kuvan with stories that are yet to end with hope. Help Tutapona bring hope and healing by donating today.

*Name has been changed to protect the individual and his family.