Painting a new future in Azerbaijan
Painting a new future in Azerbaijan
For Afghan refugee Hadiye, art has become much more than a creative outlet.
Hadiya works in the studio in Baku.
When Hadiye and her family arrived in Azerbaijan in 2013, she was just a teenager. Born in 1998 in Iran, to Afghan refugee parents, Hadiye and her siblings had to navigate the new culture and surroundings. “What amazed me the most,” she recalls, “was how free and strong Azerbaijani women were, especially their ability to dress as they wish. Their independence and hardworking nature, especially among older women who worked to support their families, truly inspired me”.
Hadiye spent her first-year learning Azerbaijani. “I couldn’t understand anything in Azerbaijani at first. That kept me out of school for a year,” she says. “I was afraid of falling behind and missing my chances in my future. I tried to make friends who could help me, and I often went out to markets and shops so I could practice the language and learn more.”
Education: a pathway to opportunity
Hadiye heard about the DAFI scholarship, a programme established to support refugee students to earn degrees in their country of asylum, and was determined to apply.
“This program became a source of hope for me, and I immediately started preparing to apply. Since the program required high academic performance, I studied seriously and tried my best to achieve the highest results possible.” Her perseverance paid off. Hadiye earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts where she received mentorship from the esteemed Azerbaijani artist Mr. Aliyar Alimirzayev who later supported her to continue with Master's degree study.
His encouragement helped her to explore her artistic side and gave her the validation she needed both as a student and an emerging artist.
Painting a new life
Art soon became a defining part of Hadiye’s identity when she developed an interest in painting five years ago. At first, it was a quiet space for expression. But soon, it evolved into a calling. “I didn’t even realize how passionate I was about art. Over time, I came to understand that colors calm me. When I look at paints, I feel a kind of inner tranquility. The colors speak for me,” she explains. “I use a lot of red because, to me, it symbolizes strength, energy, and emotion.”
Paint and tools lie scattered in the studio.
Her avant-garde style often focuses on female subjects. Through these works, she shares her experiences as a refugee and a woman. “I think a lot of my emotion gets channeled into my female characters, which always intrigued me. Sometimes, when I start painting, I don’t even realize it, but by the end, I see that once again, a strong, beautiful, and graceful woman has emerged on the canvas.”
In 2023, one of her artworks was successfully auctioned and sold for approximately 4,000 AZN (US$ 2,350), marking her first public success as an artist.
“That moment made me feel like I was truly part of this country. It was my way of giving back to a land that offered me safety and opportunity. Being a refugee has been a profound experience and an unforgettable journey for me.”
Building a life in Azerbaijan
Beyond her canvas, Hadiye is involved in community work. Twice a week, she teaches English to refugee children at the UNHCR Refugee Community Centre in Baku. These lessons were initially supported by UNHCR through incentives provided to volunteer teachers, however, after the support ended in the beginning of 2025 due to the financial hurdles, Hadiye continued the classes on her own initiative. “I couldn’t bear the idea of these children falling behind, especially when I knew exactly what that felt like, being a refugee child in the past myself” she says.
Hadiye conducts a lesson with refugee children.
In addition to painting and teaching, Hadiye has been developing skills in interior and exterior designs. This was made possible through a UNHCR-supported livelihoods initiative, which supported Hadiye and other refugee youth to develop marketable skills.
The program eventually concluded, but Hadiye’s passion and dedication left a lasting impression.
Today, Hadiye assists with real life design projects and continues learning advanced techniques, including digital modeling. “It’s more than a job opportunity — it’s a place where I feel I’m shaping something meaningful, it is a place where I can build a career” she explains.
Hadiye works at the design studio
Hadiye’s dreams continue to grow. She hopes to one day open her own design studio where she can merge her love of art and architecture, using it also as a platform to further elevate her painting career. But beyond personal success, her larger vision is also rooted in community – “My main goal is not only to provide education but also to help the kids to discover their inner potential. Through education and art, I aim to bring out their strength and ensure they grow into valuable members of society.”
