Refugee. Humanitarian. Hope Giver
Refugee. Humanitarian. Hope Giver
Humanitarian work starts from the heart. And sometimes, it starts in a tent.
A Life Uprooted
At just 13 years old, Mohammad Al-Masri fled Syria with his mother and two sisters, crossing into Jordan under the cover of darkness. “Crossing the berm was unforgettable,” he recalls. “We were terrified, carrying only a few clothes and my notebook with memories and friends’ phone numbers.”
They arrived in Zaatari refugee camp in 2012. “It was winter. We lived in tents that sometimes collapsed on us,” he says. Eventually, they moved into a prefabricated shelter, but life remained difficult. “At first, I didn’t think I’d continue school. I thought we’d return to Syria any moment.”
Learning by Lantern Light
Despite the uncertainty, Mohammad found strength in education. “Solving math equations helped me cope,” he says. Studying wasn't easy, with crowded classrooms, and living with my family in one small shelter, with no electricity, and water collection duties filling his days. “I used to study at night with a mini lantern while rain leaked through the ceiling.”
Supported by his mother, uncle, grandmother and his own determination, he passed the final high school exams (Tawjihi) with a score of 76 per cent. “It was a moment of pure joy. All the stress disappeared.”
A Scholarship That Changed Everything
Mohammad’s childhood dream was to study civil engineering. While refugees in Jordan have access to free primary and secondary education, attending university remains challenging due to high costs. For Mohammad, the dream to become an engineer became a reality thanks to DAFI Programme (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative), which provides scholarships for refugee students.
“When I heard about the scholarship, I focused all my energy on getting it,” Mohammad says. “I wrote a motivation letter about my dream to study civil engineering.”
A few weeks later, a phone call changed his life: he had been accepted. “That day, I couldn’t stop smiling. It was the first real moment of hope for the future.”
From Refugee to Humanitarian
University studies not only equipped Mohammad with professional knowledge but inspired him to use his skills for the benefit of other refugees. “The scholarship didn’t just give me an education,” he explains. “It introduced me to volunteering, teamwork, and giving back to my community.” Mohammad’s desire to give back led him to work with several non-governmental organizations in Zaatari as a site engineer, digital finance trainer, and math teacher. “I felt the need to do more, so I applied to join UNHCR as a Refugee UN Volunteer,” he says.
Now, he serves as a Shelter and Settlement Assistant helping under the technical unit in Zaatari camp, his duties are to help provide maintenance services to refugees across the camp. “My own caravan needs repair, but I still work every day to help others. It’s not easy, but I feel proud.”
A Role Model in the Camp
Striking a balance between being a humanitarian and a refugee who needs help. Something around those lines, balancing his dual identity as both a refugee and a humanitarian, “I live the same struggles as those I serve,” he says. Still, many in the camp see him as an inspiration. “My friend Mahmoud started studying again after seeing my journey.”
For him, volunteering is about creating ripple effects. “When you do good, it spreads. You build community.”
Looking Ahead
While returning to Syria remains uncertain as we don’t have a home, and due to the economic situation, Mohammad dreams of one day helping rebuild his country and continuing to work in the humanitarian field to help those in need.
His message to other young refugees is clear:
“Never lose hope. Invest in your abilities. You are capable of more than you think.”
On this World Humanitarian Day, Mohammad’s story is a powerful reminder:
Even in the most challenging circumstances, Mohammad, a refugee who left everything behind and still relies on humanitarian support, has stepped forward to serve as a humanitarian himself, helping those around him because he knows their suffering and understands the difference compassion can make.