About Refugees, By Refugees

“My dream is to illustrate my own art in terms of sculptures, music, Kurdish folklore. And also

, all I’m staying to do is to preserve the Kurdish language. I don’t want it to disappear,” says artist Bager Zine (pseud, 49), a refugee from Turkey. Bager was forced to leave his home to travel to Europe after being persecuted for playing in a Kurdish band; his wife and daughter have not yet been able to join him. “I don’t feel like I belong here,” >he says. “You’re always alone, you know? When you get up in the morning you have the same thoughts. You’re away from the family.” His time in the Netherlands has been difficult and stressful, especially with the COVID pandemic, but he says, “art brings me joy. If it wasn’t for art, I wouldn’t have lived here one day. I would choke without art or because of stress.” Despite these challenges, his dream of creating art remains the same: “I would be so happy if I could do nice things for people and children.” Full Story

“My dream is to illustrate my own art in terms of sculptures, music, Kurdish folklore. And also

, all I’m staying to do is to preserve the Kurdish language. I don’t want it to disappear,” says artist Bager Zine (pseud, 49), a refugee from Turkey. Bager was forced to leave his home to travel to Europe after being persecuted for playing in a Kurdish band; his wife and daughter have not yet been able to join him. “I don’t feel like I belong here,” >he says. “You’re always alone, you know? When you get up in the morning you have the same thoughts. You’re away from the family.” His time in the Netherlands has been difficult and stressful, especially with the COVID pandemic, but he says, “art brings me joy. If it wasn’t for art, I wouldn’t have lived here one day. I would choke without art or because of stress.” Despite these challenges, his dream of creating art remains the same: “I would be so happy if I could do nice things for people and children.” Full Story

“My dream is to illustrate my own art in terms of sculptures, music, Kurdish folklore. And also

, all I’m staying to do is to preserve the Kurdish language. I don’t want it to disappear,” says artist Bager Zine (pseud, 49), a refugee from Turkey. Bager was forced to leave his home to travel to Europe after being persecuted for playing in a Kurdish band; his wife and daughter have not yet been able to join him. “I don’t feel like I belong here,” >he says. “You’re always alone, you know? When you get up in the morning you have the same thoughts. You’re away from the family.” His time in the Netherlands has been difficult and stressful, especially with the COVID pandemic, but he says, “art brings me joy. If it wasn’t for art, I wouldn’t have lived here one day. I would choke without art or because of stress.” Despite these challenges, his dream of creating art remains the same: “I would be so happy if I could do nice things for people and children.” Full Story

“My dream is to illustrate my own art in terms of sculptures, music, Kurdish folklore. And also

, all I’m staying to do is to preserve the Kurdish language. I don’t want it to disappear,” says artist Bager Zine (pseud, 49), a refugee from Turkey. Bager was forced to leave his home to travel to Europe after being persecuted for playing in a Kurdish band; his wife and daughter have not yet been able to join him. “I don’t feel like I belong here,” >he says. “You’re always alone, you know? When you get up in the morning you have the same thoughts. You’re away from the family.” His time in the Netherlands has been difficult and stressful, especially with the COVID pandemic, but he says, “art brings me joy. If it wasn’t for art, I wouldn’t have lived here one day. I would choke without art or because of stress.” Despite these challenges, his dream of creating art remains the same: “I would be so happy if I could do nice things for people and children.” Full Story

“My dream is to illustrate my own art in terms of sculptures, music, Kurdish folklore. And also

, all I’m staying to do is to preserve the Kurdish language. I don’t want it to disappear,” says artist Bager Zine (pseud, 49), a refugee from Turkey. Bager was forced to leave his home to travel to Europe after being persecuted for playing in a Kurdish band; his wife and daughter have not yet been able to join him. “I don’t feel like I belong here,” >he says. “You’re always alone, you know? When you get up in the morning you have the same thoughts. You’re away from the family.” His time in the Netherlands has been difficult and stressful, especially with the COVID pandemic, but he says, “art brings me joy. If it wasn’t for art, I wouldn’t have lived here one day. I would choke without art or because of stress.” Despite these challenges, his dream of creating art remains the same: “I would be so happy if I could do nice things for people and children.” Full Story

“My dream is to illustrate my own art in terms of sculptures, music, Kurdish folklore. And also

, all I’m staying to do is to preserve the Kurdish language. I don’t want it to disappear,” says artist Bager Zine (pseud, 49), a refugee from Turkey. Bager was forced to leave his home to travel to Europe after being persecuted for playing in a Kurdish band; his wife and daughter have not yet been able to join him. “I don’t feel like I belong here,” >he says. “You’re always alone, you know? When you get up in the morning you have the same thoughts. You’re away from the family.” His time in the Netherlands has been difficult and stressful, especially with the COVID pandemic, but he says, “art brings me joy. If it wasn’t for art, I wouldn’t have lived here one day. I would choke without art or because of stress.” Despite these challenges, his dream of creating art remains the same: “I would be so happy if I could do nice things for people and children.” Full Story

“My dream is to illustrate my own art in terms of sculptures, music, Kurdish folklore. And also

, all I’m staying to do is to preserve the Kurdish language. I don’t want it to disappear,” says artist Bager Zine (pseud, 49), a refugee from Turkey. Bager was forced to leave his home to travel to Europe after being persecuted for playing in a Kurdish band; his wife and daughter have not yet been able to join him. “I don’t feel like I belong here,” >he says. “You’re always alone, you know? When you get up in the morning you have the same thoughts. You’re away from the family.” His time in the Netherlands has been difficult and stressful, especially with the COVID pandemic, but he says, “art brings me joy. If it wasn’t for art, I wouldn’t have lived here one day. I would choke without art or because of stress.” Despite these challenges, his dream of creating art remains the same: “I would be so happy if I could do nice things for people and children.” Full Story

“My dream is to illustrate my own art in terms of sculptures, music, Kurdish folklore. And also

, all I’m staying to do is to preserve the Kurdish language. I don’t want it to disappear,” says artist Bager Zine (pseud, 49), a refugee from Turkey. Bager was forced to leave his home to travel to Europe after being persecuted for playing in a Kurdish band; his wife and daughter have not yet been able to join him. “I don’t feel like I belong here,” >he says. “You’re always alone, you know? When you get up in the morning you have the same thoughts. You’re away from the family.” His time in the Netherlands has been difficult and stressful, especially with the COVID pandemic, but he says, “art brings me joy. If it wasn’t for art, I wouldn’t have lived here one day. I would choke without art or because of stress.” Despite these challenges, his dream of creating art remains the same: “I would be so happy if I could do nice things for people and children.” Full Story

“My dream is to illustrate my own art in terms of sculptures, music, Kurdish folklore. And also

, all I’m staying to do is to preserve the Kurdish language. I don’t want it to disappear,” says artist Bager Zine (pseud, 49), a refugee from Turkey. Bager was forced to leave his home to travel to Europe after being persecuted for playing in a Kurdish band; his wife and daughter have not yet been able to join him. “I don’t feel like I belong here,” >he says. “You’re always alone, you know? When you get up in the morning you have the same thoughts. You’re away from the family.” His time in the Netherlands has been difficult and stressful, especially with the COVID pandemic, but he says, “art brings me joy. If it wasn’t for art, I wouldn’t have lived here one day. I would choke without art or because of stress.” Despite these challenges, his dream of creating art remains the same: “I would be so happy if I could do nice things for people and children.” Full Story

“My dream is to illustrate my own art in terms of sculptures, music, Kurdish folklore. And also

, all I’m staying to do is to preserve the Kurdish language. I don’t want it to disappear,” says artist Bager Zine (pseud, 49), a refugee from Turkey. Bager was forced to leave his home to travel to Europe after being persecuted for playing in a Kurdish band; his wife and daughter have not yet been able to join him. “I don’t feel like I belong here,” >he says. “You’re always alone, you know? When you get up in the morning you have the same thoughts. You’re away from the family.” His time in the Netherlands has been difficult and stressful, especially with the COVID pandemic, but he says, “art brings me joy. If it wasn’t for art, I wouldn’t have lived here one day. I would choke without art or because of stress.” Despite these challenges, his dream of creating art remains the same: “I would be so happy if I could do nice things for people and children.” Full Story