Migrant Stories

Small Victories from Iraq: Nawal and Mirna

“I try to make our women feel as beautiful on the outside as they are on the inside. It is a difficult time for all of us here in Iraq, and with my salon, I am trying to bring some normalcy to my community and the people around me. I want my customers to look into the mirror, see their new hairstyles, and be able to smile. If I can succeed in that, I know that my day had a purpose.”

Nawal Solaka is the co-owner of the “Kristina” hair salon in the town of Hamdania, outside the city of Mosul, Iraq. When we visited her salon she seemed happy and content, albeit very busy. The waiting area was full of women waiting to have their hair cut, eyebrows waxed, or nails painted. As she carefully trimmed the hair of one of her customers, she explained to us that although she was doing quite well now, her journey had been long and rocky.

“We used to live in Baghdad,” she told us. “But as minorities, we were living in fear. Our family is Christian, and my brother-in-law owned a liquor shop. We were constantly expecting armed gangs to break into the house. Every noise would wake us up – I don’t think I slept more than 2 hours a night for months.”

Nawal’s fears became reality in April 2006, when her brother-in-law was killed by a terrorist attack. It was at that time that Nawal decided to leave Baghdad. Accompanied by her niece Mirna, her widowed sister Romaya, and her elderly parents Ziad and Hasna, Nawal sought refuge with relatives in the small town of Hamdania. “If my family’s safety had not been in question, I would not have left,” Nawal stated. “But I had to, for the sake of my niece. It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do. My business was there, my life was there. Overnight, I gave everything up.”

When they arrived in Hamdania, Nawal, Mirna, Romaya, Ziad, and Hasna were supported by their extended family. “Our cousins were so generous; they shared with us what little they had. My brother, who lives abroad, also helped us out as much as could, but I had never lived off charity before. I was incredibly depressed, and didn’t know how to put my life back together.” One trouble was followed by another when in 2008, Nawal was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I am sure the sickness was caused by stress,” she stated. “First it was the sleepless nights in Baghdad. Then it was the forced relocation. With no home and no job, I was miserable. My body and soul just couldn’t take it anymore.”

During the same period, Nawal received news that her niece, Mirna, had been wounded in a shooting. Mirna was attending school in Mosul when a terrorist unleashed fire on her school bus. “When I learnt that Mirna had been wounded, I found the strength to fight,” Nawal recalled. “I realized that I needed to survive in order to take care of my niece.”

Mirna went to Turkey to receive treatment for her bullet wounds, and Nawal travelled to Syria to receive chemotherapy. While in Damascus, Nawal spent her free time in Damascus volunteering at a local hair salon. “I loved the work,” she stated. “And I loved my niece. It was these two things that helped me win the battle against breast cancer in the end.”

After spending two years in and out of the hospital, Nawal returned to Iraq. Mirna also recovered fully from her injuries, and the family was reunited at the end of 2010.

In 2011, Nawal and Mirna learned about IOM’s Programme for Human Security and Stabilization (PHSS), which offers grants, trainings, job placement opportunities, business development services, and other such livelihood development initiatives to vulnerable individuals in Iraq. Nawal and Mirna each applied for a grant from PHSS, and were soon after awarded toolkits to establish their own businesses. They decided to combine their two grants, and together they opened a spacious beauty parlour in the town of Hamdania. IOM provided all of the equipment for the salon, including an electric generator, chairs, mirrors, and professional hair dryers, amongst other things.

“IOM has been incredibly helpful and supportive. I even had the opportunity to participate in a business management training course offered by IOM’s Business Development Services (BDS) initiative. They taught me about the fundamentals of running a business, how to manage my finances, and some bookkeeping basics. They gave us more than just equipment. They really care.”

In the one year since its establishment, “Kristina Salon” has become one of the most popular beauty parlours in the entire region. “Our appointment books are full today,” Nawal told us. “And on top of that, I am also expecting a group of ten women from Mosul. We are doing all of the hair and make-up for a wedding. On days like this, my sister will help us, and we’ve also hired a few more helping hands.” With their salon, Nawal and Mirna are able to not only make a decent living, but they can support their entire family.

“For me, this salon is not just a way to make money. It’s much more than that. This salon is a sanctuary from the outside world, from the madness around us. A woman can walk into my shop and not have to worry about anything else – the violence, the fighting, the war. Instead, for an hour or two, she can worry about only herself, and we can help her to escape the harsh and gray reality that surrounds us, at least for a moment.” As Nawal was telling us this, the wedding party arrived, and we found ourselves with nowhere left to sit in the salon.

As we packed our bags to leave, Nawal called to us. “Thank you IOM,” she said. “You really helped me when I was in need. Sometimes, just a little bit of help can make a big difference, and it can really turn your life around.”