Born in the Kurdish town of Amuda in 1953, Fawzia Qajo came of age in a world marked by resilience, sorrow, and unyielding community bonds. From the devastating Amuda cinema fire that claimed the lives of hundreds of children, to secret Newroz celebrations, border crossings, and the struggle of migration, her story unfolds against the backdrop of Kurdish history in Syria.

Told with honesty and courage, these memoirs capture the hardships of family loss, arranged marriage, and political repression, while celebrating the endurance of women who carried their households and identities through decades of upheaval.

With vivid detail, Qajo’s voice preserves memories that might otherwise be forgotten, stories of grief and survival, but also of laughter, kinship, and hope.

This book is both an intimate family memoir and a vital contribution to Kurdish cultural memory.