PhD Student Hourie – An Inspirational Woman from a Refugee Camp

PhD student Hourie has managed to defeat all odds, coming from a Palestinian refugee camp in Southern Lebanon, to pursuing a PhD in the USA...

As young women, we have to understand that we should be the captains of our lives; we cannot please everyone, not even our parents. Don’t worry about starting the road alone, as long as you know you are on the right one, and others will eventually follow.

Hourie

I first met Hourie in Malta around 4 years ago whilst we were both volunteering with the Migrant Woman Association. Hourie impressed me with her calm, gentle, intelligent ways of communicating and her positive attitude towards life. Instantly I could tell that this was a young woman who had so much potential and who would be going places. Her positive outlook towards life and her sense of justice and peace even though she had come from a very difficult background shines through and she leaves a lasting impression on those of us who have had the privilege of meeting her and calling her our friend.

I wanted to interview Hourie because she is an inspiring young, empowered woman. I know that her story will inspire other young women to think that if Hourie can go so far so can I. In reality, there is nothing stopping us but our own personal internal voices. Ladies meet Hourie:

Francesca: Hi Hourie, thanks so much for accepting this interview; I know you’re now a PhD student living in the United States, living possibly what some would call “the American dream” but it wasn’t always so. Can you tell us a bit about your life journey and how you ended up in the United States after being brought up in a refugee camp in Lebanon?

Hi Francesca, thank you for interviewing me today. I just turned 29 a few days ago, but I feel much older than this when we talk about life journey.

I was raised in a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. I had my primary and secondary education at the United Nation’s schools inside the camp. Our school journey was always a dangerous one because of the clashes that used to take place inside the camp.

My dream job was to be an architect, but after graduating high school, I was hit with the reality that we cannot afford a college education. However, I applied for United Nations scholarships, and I received one to study graphic design at the Lebanese International University. In 2012, after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, I was hit with another reality that we cannot practice up to 39 professions in Lebanon as Palestinian refugees. I had to work a few simple jobs near the camp, which barely covered the transportation expenses.

In 2014, I got married and moved with my ex-husband to Malta, where he pursued his university studies. In Malta, I finished my advanced diploma marketing at MCAST. I was also involved in the voluntary scene. I joined Migrant Women Association, Malta. With time, I co-founded Spark-15, the first youth refugee-led organization in Europe. Spark15 aims to support refugee access to higher education and the labor market. Through Spark15 I tried to meet young refugee women and encourage them to be more active in their community.

In 2016, a visitor came to attend our weekly meeting. He was very interested in our advocacy work. He was the dean of the graduate school at Rutgers University, New Jersey. He invited me to the US to visit Rutgers university and talk about our work with Spark15; after the visit, he encouraged me to apply to a doctoral program at the university, I applied and got accepted as a PhD student, and here I am today on my fourth year of Ph.D. in global affairs.

Francesca: I know that like many Maltese parents, your parents too really worried about you and possibly this worry limits children, especially women from pushing forward, stopping us from realising our dreams and achieving our full potential as grown women. What would you say to other young women facing similar obstacles to find the courage to follow their dreams and to parents to encourage them to “allow” and empower their children to achieve their full potential

This is a very important and sensitive topic. I always tell my father if I didn’t leave Lebanon to Malta in 2014. I would probably be with him in the camp today, barely managing to cover our food expenses. Growing up, my father was very protective, my social life was limited to the family and school.  After graduation, he opposed the idea of me looking for jobs in another city like “Beirut.” He was always insisting that I work next to the camp, knowing that there are no opportunities.

When I chose to come to the US to pursue my studies as a PhD student, my father, at that time, was not entirely on board. Nowadays,  he says that he is proud of me and what I have turned out to be a strong independent woman, and he believes that I made the right decision.

When I first came to the US, I was almost 26 years old. First time to live alone, being a PhD student in a totally new major in a new country. I would lie to you if I say I was not scared, and everything was smooth. At the same time, I was always reminding myself that if there is a will, there is a way; I was so determined at the time that I want to succeed and shape my future based on what I want.

I say to young women, please do believe in yourself first, and nothing is impossible.  I assure you that nothing can beat your power of determination. I am not saying that it would be an easy road, absolutely not; it is very challenging, you may fail sometimes, and you may feel that you cannot take it anymore. Trust me, I felt this way on different occasions. I just look at myself in the mirror, even with tears sometimes, and remind myself that I can do it.

As young women, we have to understand that we should be the captains of our lives; we cannot please everyone, not even our parents. Don’t worry about starting the road alone, as long as you know you are on the right one, and others will eventually follow. My experience made me believe that parents need to understand that being overprotective might ruin their children’s future. They have a responsibility to empower their young girls, not merely raise them. They can do so by trusting their choice and let them be what they want to be.

Francesca: Tell us more about your Phd student life, did you always want to study? How did you end up following a Phd course in the United States and what is your dissertation about and what is the final dream, after completing your dissertation?

My dissertation examines the factors which influence refugee entrepreneurship in the US communities. Initially, I wanted to examine refugee entrepreneurship in the Middle east camps. However, due to COVID-19, I had to change the plan.

My final dream on the academic level is to be a professor to both teach and learn about refugee and migration issues.

My ultimate goal is to establish a start-up that provides entrepreneurship training and funding for refugee women in the Middle east camps to start their own businesses. In addition to creating free pre-schooling institutions for refugee kids, these two projects are intertwined.

Francesca: Congratulations – I know you recently got engaged too – and I know you mentioned that your partner really encourages and supports you – what are the most important qualities you value in your relationships?

For me, a successful relationship is the one that doesn’t hold you back from achieving what you are aiming for. I am very honest with my husband, for sure we have common goals together as a family, but each one of us also has their own side life and dreams. We will always support each other towards fulfilling these dreams.

Francesca: Many women seem to complete their Phd’s, study for years and then slow down to have children and this has hindered women from reaching the ‘top of their game’ and continues to effect the gender pay gap and also contributes to many women missing out on top leadership positions. Do you think this will also be the path you will take – that of slowing down to have kids, or do you intend to continue working to achieve the top or your chosen area and will your partner support your career path too?

This is really a very challenging matter. I believe that the woman can do both if she is with the right person. We don’t always have to choose between having children or being at the top leadership positions. If it is currently the case, then we have to push very hard to change it. We can prove that we can do both simultaneously, but again we need to choose the right person who would support us in doing so.

Francesca: Thank you Hourie, I really wish you all the best of luck for your future,  just one last question; what would you tell women your age who might be contemplating starting on a new path in life but are having doubts and worries about whether they are good enough or capable enough?

I tell them that you are not only capable enough, but you are more than capable and more than enough. Believe in yourself and don’t let negative thoughts bring you down. What you do today shapes what you will be in the future. Sometimes we have to take risks, and if our paths look different, don’t mean they are wrong. For me, life was never easy, and I don’t expect it to ever be. To be honest, I started to love like that, sometimes it is frustrating, but it reminds me to always have a purpose, so I can accept to take every new challenge with wide arms.

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Are you a PhD student too? What is your experience? Contact us or email us at [email protected]