My name is Balla Mohammed Mustafa. I am 23 years old and I come from the peaceful town of Ranya. Today, I am a proud student at the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences at Sulaimani University, where I specialize in Agribusiness and Rural Development. However, getting here was far from easy. Before university, my life was filled with both material and emotional struggles. The final year of high school was particularly challenging—I couldn't complete it successfully the first time. While my peers moved on, I was left behind. That gap weighed heavily on me. I felt out of sync, uncertain, and even afraid of the future. Three years passed before I finally overcame those hurdles and joined the university. It felt like stepping into a new world—a different environment, new faces, and unfamiliar routines. At first, I felt like a stranger. But slowly, with time and effort, I began to find my footing. Everything began to change during my first year, when I was accepted into the "Prospects for Peace Through Education in Iraq" scholarship programme for 2021–2022. That moment was a turning point in my life—my golden opportunity. The scholarship opened doors I had never imagined. It offered not only financial support but also critical skills training in writing, research, and critical thinking. I improved my English, formed friendships with students across various universities in Kurdistan, and—most importantly—started to believe in myself. My perspective on education and life shifted completely. Fueled by encouragement from my teachers and the opportunities the scholarship provided, I rose to become the top student in my department. I threw myself into academic and extracurricular activities—festivals, volunteer work, and community projects. My passion for agriculture deepened with every new experience. Now, as I prepare to graduate, I carry with me not just a degree, but a purpose. With the knowledge and skills I’ve gained, I aim to become a positive force in the world—someone who contributes meaningfully to agricultural development and uplifts others just as I was once uplifted. I am deeply grateful to my teachers and the scholarship program that believed in me when I barely believed in myself. This is only the beginning. I dream of continuing my education, growing in knowledge and experience, and serving my community and country through agriculture. My name is Balla Mohammed Mustafa, and this is my journey—from struggle to strength, from hesitation to hope.
 

My name is Muhsin Khudida, and I recently graduated with a degree in Information Technology from the Catholic University in Erbil. I come from Sinjar, Iraq — a region that has faced many challenges over the years. I am writing to express my deep appreciation for the invaluable support I received through the DAAD scholarship. Before receiving this scholarship, it was extremely difficult for me to continue my higher education. The Catholic University is a private institution, and the tuition fees were beyond what my family could afford. Without financial support, I would not have been able to pursue my academic goals. The DAAD scholarship came at a critical time and changed everything for me. Thanks to this scholarship, I was able to focus fully on my studies and complete my degree successfully. It not only relieved a major financial burden, but it also gave me the motivation and stability I needed to reach graduation. Now, as a graduate, I feel proud and ready to move forward, contribute to my community, and work toward a better future. In conclusion, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the DAAD organization for giving me—and so many other students—the chance to dream, to grow, and to succeed. Your support has made a lasting impact on my life.

My Graduation Journey – From Hope to Destiny:

My name is Bayar Kamal Ali, born in 2002, in the serene city of Derik, located in Syria’s Al-Hasakah Governorate. From my earliest school years, I was always among the top students, excelling from the first to the fourth grade. But soon, war swept through our homeland, and my family and I were forced to seek refuge in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq—a move that not only changed my location but reshaped my future and the purpose of my life. Leaving our homeland was not just a geographical shift—it was a psychological and emotional earthquake. I was still a young child, yet I found myself confronting a reality filled with uncertainty and challenges. Despite everything, I held on tightly to one thing: my education. It became my only constant, my compass, and my means of standing tall in a world turned upside down. In Kurdistan, I continued my educational journey with determination, eventually reaching the twelfth grade, known as the Baccalaureate stage—the most important phase in any student’s life, and the decisive gateway to the future. From a young age, I was passionate about the world of computer science. It wasn’t just a passing interest—it was a dream that lived within me. I saw it as the language of the future, a tool for innovation, problem-solving, and serving society. But when the national exams arrived, I encountered my first real obstacle. The subject of Biology, which was the first exam on the schedule, was unexpectedly difficult. My performance in it affected my final score, which dropped to 87.3%—a strong result, but not what I had hoped for. Despite the disappointment, I remained among the top-performing students, ranking second among my peers. Yet the biggest challenge wasn’t academic—it was social. When it came time to submit university preferences, I faced objections from family, relatives, and even friends. “Why don’t you apply for medicine or engineering?” they asked. They believed those fields were more secure and promising. But there was one voice that stood firmly by my side—my mother’s. With words that were simple yet profound, she said: “Choose the path you love, and don’t listen to what others want for you.” That moment was a turning point in my life. I applied to the Department of Computer Science, and when the acceptance results were announced, I felt indescribable joy—a joy rooted not only in success, but in staying true to myself. I had chosen my path with my own will, despite all the pressure, and I was granted the opportunity to walk it. Now, when I look back, I see that the difficulty I faced in Biology wasn’t a setback, but a redirection—a hidden message from destiny. Perhaps God wasn’t steering me away from something, but guiding me toward something greater. My journey from Derik to Kurdistan, from pain to hope, and from pressure to free choice, has shaped the person I am today. I’ve learned that true success is not measured by grades or certificates, but by the courage to hold on to your dreams—especially when the world tries to pull you away from them. And today, with every line of code I write, I carry a story—not only of academic achievement, but of resilience, vision, and the unwavering power of self-belief.  

Challenges and Obstacles in University Life – First Steps on the Path to My Dream:

University life was far from free of difficulties. On the contrary, it was one of the most challenging phases of my journey. Yet, at the same time, it was the most beautiful and impactful in shaping my future and leaving a mark of success. After being accepted into the College of Science at Salahaddin University, in the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, I had to begin the registration procedures. When I first set foot on campus, I felt like I was in an unfamiliar world—I didn’t know the places, the facilities, or even how to get to the registration unit or my academic department. In a moment of confusion, God sent me a kind young man, a fourth-year student in the same department. He stood by my side and helped me complete all the necessary paperwork and registration steps. After that, I started attending lectures the following week. From the very beginning, I faced a major challenge in understanding the Kurdish dialect used at the university, as I am from Syrian Kurdistan, and our dialect is quite different from that of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. I also noticed clear cultural differences between myself and my classmates, and even with the professors, which added another layer of unfamiliarity and difficulty in adapting. Most professors gave their lectures in the Kurdish dialect, even though the curriculum was written in English. This made it even more challenging to grasp the material. There was even a whole subject taught entirely in Kurdish, covering the history and geography of Kurdistan and Iraq, and I had to exert extra effort to understand it. On another front, my major required owning a powerful laptop, which I couldn’t afford at the time. That became both a technical and academic obstacle I had to face. Despite all these challenges—linguistic, cultural, and financial—I successfully completed my first semester with distinction and ranked among the top three students in the department. That achievement was a beacon of hope and a testament that sincere determination can overcome all obstacles. Amid this success, I received an email from the DAAD programme, inviting me to an interview for a scholarship offered in collaboration with GIZ. I attended the interview with passion and confidence. Not long after, I received the acceptance letter—a moment that wasn’t just about financial support, but rather a spiritual boost that reinforced my self-belief. It confirmed that I was a student capable of proving myself and that this scholarship would be a bright milestone in building my future.  

The Impact of the DAAD and GIZ Scholarship – A Journey of Growth and Gratitude

The DAAD and GIZ scholarship has been a turning point in my academic and personal development. It provided more than just financial support—it instilled in me a profound sense of confidence and motivation to continuously strive for excellence. Thanks to their support, I was finally able to purchase a high-performance laptop, which was an essential requirement for my field of study. As a Computer Science student, having access to reliable technology allowed me to fully engage with all the practical aspects of my coursework. I was able to code, practice daily, and stay up to date with the technical demands of the curriculum. In my first and second years of university, my English language skills were not yet strong enough. At Salahaddin University, all exams and answers were required to be in English, which posed a considerable challenge for me. However, DAAD stepped in once again. They provided us with professional English language courses through the Dilman International Language Institute in Erbil. These courses were invaluable. We studied all aspects of the language—speaking, writing, reading, listening, and grammar. The programme followed the IELTS system, which significantly enhanced my proficiency. Today, I can confidently say that I understand English fluently and can express myself with clarity and ease. In our fourth year, DAAD offered us a special course on critical thinking and academic research methodology. This course had a profound impact on my ability to conduct my graduation project. It sharpened my analytical skills and expanded my perspective, empowering me to excel in my final year. As a result of all this support, I achieved a final year average exceeding 90%. This accomplishment stands as a testament to the power of guidance, opportunity, and belief. To the entire DAAD and GIZ teams—thank you from the bottom of my heart. Because of your support, I have reached heights I once only dreamed of. Your scholarship has become a cornerstone in the foundation of my success.

I am Hevi Akram Al-Hajji, a graduate of the Department of Business Administration at the College of Administration and Economics, Salahaddin University in Erbil. I was one of the students selected to benefit from the DAAD scholarship, which was a unique and challenging experience that helped me grow both academically and personally. Before being accepted, I faced many difficulties, the biggest one being that my father was the only supporter for me and my siblings during our studies. I saw the DAAD scholarship announcement on Facebook and decided to apply, despite the hard situation. What helped me most was that I never gave up, and I kept trying. Thanks to Allah, I passed two interviews and got accepted. It was one of the happiest moments in my life. My faith in Allah gave me the strength to continue. At first, I was passionate about another major, but I couldn’t join it, so I chose Business Administration. On my first day at university, I thought I would live the best years of my life. I was full of hope, expecting rest after the pressure of school. But reality was different. University was not just classes and lectures, it was a real test of my patience, strength, and dreams. I was tired from long nights, endless lectures, sudden exams, and the feeling that I was always running without rest. But I learned to depend on myself. I discovered my true strength. I also learned that failure is not the end, it’s a lesson. University helped me grow, not just in age, but in mind, awareness, and personality. Today, when I look back, I don’t regret the hard times, because I became stronger, deeper, and closer to the person I always dreamed of becoming. Over time, I started loving my major, especially marketing. I found myself doing well in that subject. The teacher supported me, which gave me more confidence and passion to continue. I am very proud of myself. When the war started in Syria, my family and I had to leave our home and move to a new place, searching for safety. Life was not easy at all, especially in a new environment, with new people, and a new language. I faced many difficulties, especially with the language at university. But I didn’t give up.
I learned the language by making friends, listening carefully in lectures, writing down difficult words, and practicing them every day. Graduating from university was not just about getting a degree. It was proof that I can succeed, even with all the obstacles. Being a refugee made me stronger.  Today, I proudly say: I didn’t give up, even with many challenges in my life… I made a great achievement. I graduated, with Allah’s help and the strong support of my family, who were always by my side with their prayers, patience, and love. One of the best parts of the scholarship was meeting friends from different cultural, religious, and age backgrounds. Despite our differences, they were never a barrier, instead, they made the experience richer and more human. One unforgettable moment was during a DAAD student conference, where my friend and I presented our scientific research and shared our experience with you. We listened to inspiring stories of graduates who faced big challenges but still succeeded. These stories gave me strong motivation to keep going and to follow my dream of completing a master’s degree, God willing. In the end, I want to thank my parents deeply for their endless support. With their prayers, patience, and love, I finished my academic journey in peace, despite all the difficulties. I also want to thank the DAAD scholarship for this amazing opportunity, and I’m very grateful to Miss Anke, Miss Maryam, and Mr. Louay for their continued support for the students.  Without their help and dedication, this experience would not have been so successful and meaningful. You all have my deepest respect and appreciation.