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Most Syrian refugees remain in the Middle East, particularly in countries neighboring Syria. At Østerland, we are privileged to work closely with several Syrian artisans who fled to Turkey in 2013.
Helin is one of them and she works full-time for Østerland, creating incredible handmade crafts that reflect Syriss rich cultural heritage.
Syria’s recent liberation from Assad has already sparked discussions about the potential return of the millions of Syrian refugees living abroad. But there’s no one better to ask than Syrians themselves about how they feel and how they envision their futures.
So, we asked our very own Østerland artisan, Helin, to share her perspective. Here is her answer, in her own words:
Leaving home is never easy. Syria is in my heart every single day, but the decision to return is far more complicated than simply longing for the life we left behind. There is no doubt that we were very happy when Syria was liberated from the Assad regime and the Ba’ath Party.
For a moment, it felt like we could breathe again, and for the first time in years, we allowed ourselves to think about going home—about living once more among our family and relatives. But even with that hope, there are so many concerns holding us back.
As Kurds, we still do not know what our fate will be or where the situation is leading. There are too many fears, too many unanswered questions.
Our children make the decision even harder. They were born here in Turkey, where we fled for safety. They grew up here, studied here, and have never seen Syria. For them, the idea of returning to a place they’ve never known feels impossible. To uproot them suddenly would be unfair—we need to prepare them, to help them understand and adjust, and that takes time. We are waiting—watching—hoping that one day we can feel confident about going back.
When the situation stabilizes, when there is an agreement between the Kurds and the government in Damascus, when the fighting ends completely, and life goes back to how it was before… only then will we consider returning.
We will return when we can do so without fear or hesitation, when we know our children will have a future, and when we can build a life with dignity. Until then, we are here—working, waiting, and dreaming of a Syria we can call home again.
