“Imagine you have died and someone comes along and gives you a miracle cure. That’s what it felt like coming to Mexico; like being born again.”
Silva lived in Al-Hasakam, Syria, until August 2013, when, due to the armed conflict, she had to flee to Duhok Governorate in Iraqi Kurdistan, where she lived for four years.
During her stay in Iraq, she worked as a community assitant in a French humanitarian agency, something which allowed her to learn a lot about the needs of refugees, as well as support her family economically. Her application to become a Habesha Project beneficiary was accepted in 2015 and, after an intensive fundraising campaign by the initiative, she arrived in Mexico in February 2017.
Silva is now studying odontology at the Universidad Latina de América (UNLA).
“The existence of this project is proof that Mexico wants to help countries affected by conflict and strengthen its relationships with populations in need.”
Enjin is from Aleppo Governorate, Syria. She was able to finish her high school studies before the worsening violence in Kobanî forced her to flee to Iraq.
At several points during her stay in Iraq, she worked in colloboration with UNICEF and UNHCR as a volunteer for organizations such as Un Ponte Per, Relief and Terre des Hommes in the refugee camps of Darashakran, Baharka and Debaga. She learned a lot about maternity issues, premature births and child labor.
She began her application to Habesha Project at the end of 2016, and arrived in Mexico in September 2017.
She is currently studying a Bachelor’s in Architecture at the Western Institute of Technology and Education (ITESO) in Guadalajara.
“I want to stay strong for the people at home. I used to work in a refugee camp in Iraq, and now I’m studying administration in order to go back and make refugee camps more efficient, and generally help Syrians continue living their lives. As a refugee, your future is frozen, but as a student here in Mexico, everything is possible.”
Hazem originates from Al-Hasaka, Syria. He began studying towards his bachelor’s in 2011, but was forced to abandon his country in 2013 because of the security situation.
He travelled to Iraq and began work with French NGO ACTED in Domiz refugee camp. He began his application to Habesha Project in the middle of 2015, and after a long year of fundraising by the initiative, was welcomed to Mexico in June 2016.
Currently, Hazem is studying a Bachelor’s in Management and Business Administration at the University of Monterrey (UDEM).
“I guess I am unlucky to have been affected by war, but I am lucky to be part of Habesha Project.”
Omar is from Talbiseh, Homs, in northwestern Syria. Before the conflict, his plan was to study journalism in Damascus, but he only just managed to finish high school when the bombs started falling.
He was selected by Habesha Project in 2015, but because he found himself in an area made entirely inaccesible by violence, he had to wait for more than three years before travelling to Mexico.
Omar arrived in Mexico in May 2018. After living in Aguascalientes for a year and passing Habesha Project’s Intensive Course in Spanish Language and Academic Re-Integration (CIAERA), he began his Bachelor’s in Architecture at the Ibero-American University (IBERO).
“I didn’t want to escape. I wanted to stay put and deal with the situation even after international workers packed up and left.”
Renas is from Al-Hasaka Governorate, Syria. As the armed conflict closed in, his entire family excluding him emigrated to Germany. He stayed in Domiz refugee camp in Iraq working for French NGO ACTED, hoping Habesha Project would select him to continue his university studies in Mexico. He was indeed accepted, and arrived in Mexico in September 2017, after a wait of six months.
Today, he is a student of the Bachelor’s in International Relations at the Ibero-American University (IBERO).
Rasha is from As-Suwayda Governorate, Syria. In 2005, she won a scholarship to study a Bachelor’s in Humanities and Educational Sciences in Havana, Cuba. After finishing her studies, she returned to Syria to finish her Bachelor’s in Journalism at the University of Damascus.
She worked as a teacher of Spanish at the the University of Damascus’s Higher Institute of Languages and volunteered for the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. As part of her duties at the Red Crescent, she helped children displaced by war integrate into society by organising recreational activities.
Due to the worsening violence of the armed conflict, Rasha was forced to flee Syria in mid 2016 and travel to Lebanon. There, she worked for local humanitarian organization Sawa for Development and Aid, which works with Syrian refugees aged between 9 and 16 who want to go to school by organising workshops and therapeutic activities.
After applying to and being accepted by Habesha Project, Rasha arrived in Mexico towards the end of 2017. Today, she is studying towards a Master’s in Social Science at El Colegio de Sonora.
“I want to cure people, become a doctor, and be the best doctor in the world. I want to do research into new ways of improving people’s lives through medicine.”
Zakaria is from Aleppo, Syria. He managed to finish a vocational certificate in medical assistance before the armed conflict started in his country. Because of the increase in violence in his hometown, he was forced to emigrate to Turkey.
When he arrived in Turkey, he started learning Turkish and looked for opportunities to study medicine, but was unsuccessful. For that reason, he applied to become a Habesha Project beneficiary in 2017. Two years later, in June 2019, he arrived in Mexico.
Today, Zakaria is taking Habesha Project’s Intensive Course in Spanish Language and Academic Re-Integration (CIAERA) in Aguascalientes. Once his Spanish is at an intermediate level, he will study medicine at the Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP).
“I want to study architecture because that is what my country will need.”
Zain originates from Aleppo, Syria. He studied a Bachelor’s in Medical Assistance and interned as an audio therapist for patients with autism. Due to the violence in his hometown, he was forced to emigrate to Beirut.
During his stay in Lebanon, he supported refugee relief operations in Shatila camp as a volunteer for the International Rescue Committee, and worked on a research project on transitional justice in Syria. He started Habesha Project’s application process in September 2015, and finally arrived in Mexico in May 2016.
Today, Zain is studying a Bachelor’s in Architecture at the Universidad Anáhuac de Querétaro.
Delshad originates from Al-Hasaka, Syria. He decided to emigrate to Iraq for fear of being conscripted. During his five years in Domiz refugee camp, he worked for various humanitarian initiatives such as the United Nations Population Fund, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the Danish Refugee Council.
He began Habesha Project’s application process in November 2018 and was received in Mexico in May 2019. He is currently taking Habesha Project’s Intensive Course in Spanish Language and Academic Re-Integration (CIAERA) in Aguascalientes. When he finishes and has an intermediate level of Spanish, he will start studying towards his bachelor’s degree.
"I needed someone to build me a bridge from Aleppo to Mexico, but I’ll build the one back.”
Ahmad is from Aleppo, one of the cities most affected by the armed conflict in Syria. In spite of the difficulties the conflict presented, he managed to finish his studies in telecommunications engineering in 2016.
While studying, he worked in an association in Aleppo that distributes donated food and clothing to those in need, and was a teacher and intern at the telecommunications company Syriatel.
Upon graduating, he became eligible for conscription into the army, but his dream was to continue his education. He applied to Habesha Project at the beginning of 2016 and was accepted and received in Mexico in March 2017.
Today, he is studying a Master’s in Information Technology Governance at the Ibero-American University (IBERO).
“Habesha Project is making sure that 30 Syrian students finish their studies in Mexico and rebuild their country.”
Jackdar is from Spina, a suburb of Damascus, Syria. Due to the dangerous state of affairs in his neighbourhood, he emigrated to Duhok refugee camp in Iraq in 2013. There, he worked with French NGO ACTED, carrying out community mobilization work as part of the child protection team before moving to the department of montoring and evaluation, where he kept track of the camp’s population. Jackdar started his application to Habesha Project in May 2015, and was successfully received in Mexico in Feburary 2017.
Today, he is studying a Bachelor’s in Management and Business Administration at the University of Monterrey (UDEM).
“I think that the opportunity Habesha Project offers to Syrian students in Mexico is a very good example for any other country or project that cares about human rights, as education is important to everyone.”
Samah is from Tartus Governorate, Syria. She studied a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts at the University of Damascus, but was forced to interrupt her studies towards her Master’s because of the worsening violence of the conflict.
She emigrated to Beirut, where she worked with an Italian humanitarian organization while also taking part in an art residency for Syrian artists fleeing their country. She was unable to resume her studies during the four years in which she lived in Lebanon, until she heard about Habesha Project. She applied in June 2016, and arrived in Mexico eight months later.
Today, Samah is studying a Master’s in Gestalt Therapy at the Instituto de Terapia Gestalt Región Occidente (INTEGRO).
Amjad is from Aleppo, Syria. In 2012, because of the violence in his country, he and his family travelled to Yemen. He never imagined that just two years later Yemen would be struck by an armed conflict of its own that would cause a humanitarian crisis as bad as the one in Syria.
In spite of all this violence surrounding Amjad, he managed to finish high school and start studying civil engineering at University of Science and Technology, Yemen (USTY), obtaining the highest grades in his class. The university closed it doors because of the situation in the country, and Amjad’s dream of continuing his studies was left unfulfilled until he contacted Habesha Project.
After completing the selection process and being selected, Amjad arrived in Mexico in October 2018. He is currently taking Habesha Project’s Intensive Course in Spanish Language and Academic Re-Integration (CIAERA) in Aguascalientes. Next, he will begin studying civil engineering at the Ibero-American University (IBERO).
contacto@proyectohabesha.org
+52 1 55 4403 2382
Gral. Ignacio Allende 304, Zona Centro
20000 Aguascalientes, Ags.
Diálogo intercultural de México Activo ® 2019
Privacy PolicyThis Privacy Notice (hereafter the “Notice”) portrays the manner in which Diálogo Intercultural de México Activo, A.C. (hereafter the “Habesha Project”), which designated address to receive notices is the one located in Gral. Ignacio Allende 304, Zona Centro, Dto. Centro, Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, C.P. 20000 and which designated email is contacto@proyectohabesha.org, in its character as “Data controller” will process the Personal Data and Banking Data of the Donners and the Possible Donners, as such terms have the following meanings.
For purposes of this Notice, these terms have the following meanings:
1. Law: Federal Law on Protection of Personal Data Held by Private Parties.
2. Regulations: The Regulations to the Federal Law on Protection of Personal Data Held by Private Parties.
3. Personal Data, Sensitive Personal Data, Database, Privacy Policy, Handler and Treatment: As established in Article 3 of the Law.
4. Bank Details: Any information on any Donor or Potential Donor relating to any account under his or her name in any Credit Institution, Financial Technology Institution, Popular Finance Institution (Sofom), or any other financial institution in which the Donor or Potential Donor has stored money, foreign currency, or any liquid assets.
5. Donor: Any individual who makes a Donation to Habesha Project.
6. Donation: As established in Article 2202 of the Civil Code of Aguascalientes.
7. Potential Donors: Any person who communicates any Personal Data or Bank Details with Habesha Project for the purpose and with the intention of making a Donation to Habesha Project.
Habesha Project shall collect Personal Data and Bank Details from Donors and/or Potential Donors by any means of communication, digital or otherwise. This includes, without limits, any electronic or non-electronic program, automatized or not, intended to receive Donors’ Donations. The Personal Data and Bank Details that Habesha Project shall include but not be restricted to the name, date of birth, nationality, home address and proof of address, photo identification, email address, telephone number, account number, credit or debit card number, name and address of financial institution at which the account is held, BIC or Swift code, and any other information on the Donor or Potential Donor of which Habesha Project deems the collection necessary in order to receive Donations.
The main purposes for which Habesha Project collects the Personal Data and Bank Details of Donors and Potential Donors are as follows:
1. To verify the Donor’s identity.
2. To receive Donations.
3. To process payments.
4. To comply with regulations related to the Prevention of Operations with Funds of Illegal Provenance to which Habesha Project is subject.
5. To comply with other regulations to which Habesha Project is subject according to Mexican and foreign fiscal law, as well as any international treaties of which Mexico is a signatory.
6. To comply with local and federal law.
7. To carry our Habesha Project’s work.
Other, additional purposes for which Habesha Project collects the Personal Data and Bank Details of Donors and Potential Donors are as follows:
1. To send, electronically or otherwise, information about possible events, meetings or talks related to Habesha Project’s activities.
2. To send letters of thanks for Donations received.
3. To send, electronically or otherwise, updates on Habesha Project’s activities, such as how Donations have been spent.
Should any Donor or Potential Donor not wish for his or her Personal Details to be used for the additional purposes, he or she may at any time submit a written request which includes his or her full name, address and proof of address, email address and photo identification, and in which he or she indicates the specific additional purposes for which he or she does not wish for his or her Personal Data and Bank Details to be used.
The said request should be sent via email or mail to the address provided by Habesha Project.
Habesha Project shall respect the said request and shall not use the Donor or Potential Donor’s Personal Information or Bank Details for the purposes given in the written request.
According to the content of article 28 of the Law, the Data Owner or his legal representative may request to the Data Controller, at any time, the Access, Rectification, Cancellation or Objection (hereafter the “ARCO rights”), of the Personal Data and Banking Data communicated to the Habesha Project.
Considering that such rights are considered, under the context of this Notice, as follows:
Access: Knowing what Personal Data does the Habesha Project has, what is it used for and the conditions that is given to its processing.
Rectification: To make corrections of the Personal Data and Banking Data and of any other information that is incorrect, outdated or inaccurate.
Cancellation: Request that the information stored in the data basis or records of the Habesha Project is deleted when it is considered that it is not being used in accordance with the purposes, principles, duties and obligations established in the applicable laws and in this Notice.
Objection: To oppose to the use of the Personal Data and/or Banking Data for specific purposes.
To exercise the ARCO rights the Data Owner must send a request to the designated email established by the Habesha Project, or by corrier service with confirmation of receipt to the designated address to receive notices, of the Habesha Project, which must fulfill with the requirements established in article 29 of the Law.
It is important that the Data Owner takes into account that in case he requests the rectification of his Personal Data and Banking Data, he must indicate the changes to be performed and provide the documents that support his request.
The Habesha Project will notify within the next 20 days following the receipt of the request hereafter mentioned, if the request is admissible or inadmissible. If it is admissible it will become effective following 15 days after it is notified that it is admissible.
In all matters concerning the exercise of the ARCO rights that are not contemplated in this Notice, it will apply what is established in articles 28 to 35 of the Law, just as any other article that results applicable from the Law or the Regulations. If there is any contradiction between this Notice and the Law and/or the Regulations, the Law and Regulations will apply.
Habesha Project has in place technical, physical and informatic measurements and adequate and efficient methodologies to ensure the protection and confidentiality of the Personal Data and Banking Data of the Donners and the Possible Donners.
In accordance with articles 36 and 37 of the Law and 17,68 and 74 of the Regulations, the Data Owner gives his consent and accepts that Personal Data and/or Banking Data may be transferred to people within or outside the United Mexican States. This, with the purpose to ensure and comply with the legally binding relationship between the Habesha Project and the Data Owner. Likewise, the Habesha Project may transfer the Personal Data and/or Banking Data without the Data Owners’ consent, in any of the cases established in article 37 of the Law.
The recipients to whom the Habesha Project sends any information must maintain the confidentiality of said information, on the same manner and under the same standards in which the Habesha Project maintains it. Likewise, said recipient must comply with the legislation and regulation that applies to personal data protection, in whatever country he is located.
This Notice may be modified by the Habesha Project at any time.
Said modification will be notified by posting a notice in the official internet page of the Habesha Project. Said notice will not have to say anything else besides the fact that this Notice has been modified and the date of its modification.
Any Donner may cancel at any time his subscription to the periodic donation platform established by the Habesha Project. Following, he may cancel a Donation that has not been reported yet as paid, by the correspondent financial institution, in the accounts of the Habesha Project. If said Donation is reported as paid in the account of the Habesha Project, it will apply what is established in the reimbursement policy of this Notice.
The Donner may cancel the Donation, whether by the procedures established in said platform or by sending a written request to the designated email established by the Habesha Project, or by corrier service with confirmation of receipt to the designated address to receive notices, of the Habesha Project. This doesn’t mean that this Notice ceases to have legal effect over the Personal Data and/or Banking Data communicated by the Data Owner to the Habesha Project.
In case any Data Owner request the cancellation of his Donation, he must provide his name, address and proof if address, photography ID, assets and amount that comprise the Donation that he wishes to cancel, Banking Data and any other information that in the opinion of the Habesha Project is necessary to perform the cancelation. The processing of the data communicated in order to perform the cancelation will have to follow the rules of this Notice. Likewise, the Donner may request the reimbursement of his Donation to the Habesha Project and the Habesha Project may reimburse such Donation, as long as the request for the reimburse of the Donation is done within the 5 days following the payment of said Donation in the accounts of the Habesha Project.
Hard assets, such as real estate, acquired by the Habesha Project through a Donation, do not comprise said Donation and the Donner does not have any right over such assets.
The request for the reimbursement of the Donation must have the same data as the request of cancelation and must be communicated to the Habesha Project in the same manner.
All reimbursed payments may delay up to 20 working days following the reception of the request for reimbursement, however, such term may be extended by events of force majeure, as it may be, without limiting, failures in the payment systems administrated by the Mexican Central Bank, failure in the systems of financial institutions, failures in the systems of the Habesha Project, natural disasters, non-predictable human mistakes and/or any other circumstance or action, of nature or men, beyond the control of the Habesha Project.
Any Data Owner has the right to be answered of any question he may have regarding his Donation and the process for canceling and reimbursing a Donation, by sending an email to the designated email established by the Habesha Project, or by corrier service with confirmation of receipt to the designated address to receive notices, of the Habesha Project.