My Story

Maryam is a bright and thoughtful young girl living with her parents, sister, and two brothers in Baghdad, Iraq. Her family fled Syria in 2014 to escape the violence of the Islamic State, and they have been living as refugees ever since. Life in Iraq hasn’t been easy, but Maryam continues to dream big — she hopes to become a doctor one day so she can help others.

Maryam enjoys school, especially math, which is her favorite subject. Arabic class can be difficult, but she works hard and doesn’t give up. Her favorite color is yellow, and she absolutely loves dogs. When it comes to food, dolma — a traditional Iraqi dish — and chocolate are at the top of her list!

In her free time, Maryam enjoys drawing and expressing her creativity through art. She also loves going to Sunday School, where she sings songs and learns more about God. At home, she helps her mother by washing the dishes and doing her part to support her family.

Maryam lives in a country full of rich traditions, delicious food, and strong family values. But there are also many challenges — Iraq’s government is unstable, jobs are scarce, and access to food and clean water isn’t always guaranteed. Christians are a small minority here, and it’s not always safe to live openly as a Christian.

Even in the midst of hardship, Maryam finds comfort in her faith. She loves hearing that God knows her, loves her deeply, and will always take care of her — especially in the hard times.