Supporting Bashar’s Journey to the US.

Life Story

My name is Bashar Mousa Alallawi. I left my country Syria on February 5, 2013, two years after the war began. I was just 15-years-old. Our city, Busor Alharir, was under fire. We sought refuge in a shelter where part of it was destroyed, but we survived. My father was arrested on February 2nd, 2012. From that day on, I felt I was responsible for my family. I had six sisters and one brother ranging in age from 12 to 26. I crossed over from Syria to Jordan on February 5, 2013. I’ll never forget that day because it was freezing, and we had to stay in a large tent called “a welcoming tent,” where all the refugees were kept while they waited to register and provide their documents to the border guards. I remember hundreds of people sitting in that tent, talking to each other. It was incredibly loud, and no one could sleep because there was not enough space to lay down . Even if there were, I would not have been  able to because of the extreme noise. So, I had to sit outside of the tent in the cold. That day, I looked at Syria, which was only a few miles away, and I saw the lights of my country.I remember speaking with one of the  border guards about my country, and how life as we knew it ended for us in that place! I didn’t believe that I would leave Syria at that young age, and I never thought  it would happen without my father. My mother, brother, sisters, and I all  felt guilty because we left our father in prison, but we didn’t have any other choice. I had to leave my school, and my three sisters had to leave  their universities.

Once we were settled in Jordan, I had to start working to help my family. But despite this, I was determined to finish high school, and continued studying at the same time.I finished tenth and eleventh grade, and then I had to stop for two years because I couldn’t study and work at the same time. I worked for ten hours every day, but I didn’t give up the dream of graduating from high school and going to university. I bought books and studied independently when I had free time, which was not often. I had to put my education on hold and watch while friends around me were attending college. Joining them at college seemed like an elusive dream. Then, in 2018 when I was XX, I successfully passed my high school exams.. 

Our family is a family of achievers. My brother had to leave school in order to help support the family with me. My three sisters got scholarships and two have now graduated college. The other three are married in Lebanon and Jordan.

I love writing, andI have already started writing my first novel about my country, Syria. I hope I can publish it one day with the hopes of inspiring others to pursue their dreams despite any obstacles or adversity they might face.

In 2020, I stumbled upon a post about VIP.fund., which is an American nonprofit organization that enables conflict-affected youth to pursue education through crowdfunding. Inspired, I created a profile, set up a campaign, and shared my story. I started receiving support, particularly from my new American friends who believed in me despite never having met me in person. One supporter from XX even sold her painting to contribute to my cause. That day, I wrote a blog post titled “A Promise Across the Atlantic Sparking the Flame of Hope.” Growing up in an Arab culture, I learned that Arab geographers referred to the Atlantic as “the Sea of Darkness” – Bahr al Thouloumat because of how vast it is. Little did I know that it would become the source of a spark that ignited hope within me once again.

I embarked on my journey as an Artificial Intelligence (AI) major, driven by the desire to use AI to serve our communities. I dedicated 2,500 hours of volunteer work to the VIP.fund d, assisting marginalized students in completing their education.

I am now 26-years-old, and because I am of  military age, I cannot return to my country for fear of danger and retribution due to my family’s history over  the last twelve years. My goal is to continue with my education by obtaining a Masters or Doctoral degree in Data Science and Engineering at an American University, so I can continue to develop my passions for AI, writing, and supporting my refugee community.

Your donation to my journey to the US will have a wider impact on my future and that of Syria’s lost generation.