One App,
Many Uses
When I sit quietly and reflect on my journey, I realize my story is not just mine, it carries the voice of my community, my people, and the land that shaped me. I was born in Iraq, into the Yazidi community, a people who have endured unimaginable suffering, including genocide and displacement. Growing up in such an environment taught me resilience early on. I learned what it means to lose, to survive, and to dream in the face of despair. But most of all, I learned that hope is not a luxury, it is a responsibility.
My path as a changemaker did not begin with a grand vision. It began with simple but urgent questions: Why do some communities lack clean water? Why is electricity unstable when the sun shines so brightly above us every day? Why do the voices of women and minorities remain unheard when their wisdom could lead us forward? These questions kept me awake at night, and slowly, they became the foundation of my work.
As an energy engineer, I do not see technology as a cold machine but as a bridge between survival and dignity. In Sinjar, where many Yazidi families are returning after displacement, two urgent needs stand out: clean water and electricity. Without electricity, farmers cannot irrigate their land. Without clean water, children cannot grow healthy. And without both, the dream of rebuilding life becomes fragile. This is why I am committed to bringing sustainable solutions to my people, using solar energy to power water pumps and filtration systems that give life back to the land.
I believe deeply in the wisdom of nature. The sun, the wind, the water, all speak a language we often ignore. For too long, humanity has extracted without giving back, and climate change is the painful echo of this imbalance. My dream is to show that communities once broken by war can also become pioneers of sustainability. If Sinjar can rise again through clean energy and green practices, it will not just be a story of survival, it will be a message to the world that resilience and innovation walk hand in hand.
Diary Entry
Clean Water, Clean Energy, Clear Future
Being vegan has also shaped my worldview. For me, it is not merely a lifestyle but a moral compass, one rooted in compassion for animals, nature, and life itself. Every meal I choose is a reminder that change begins with small, daily actions. We cannot demand peace if we do not practice kindness in the choices we make. This belief keeps me grounded and reminds me that the fight for justice is also a fight for harmony.
Of course, change is never easy. Along the way, I have faced doubts, both from others and within myself. Some told me: “Your ideas are too ambitious for this place.” Others said: “Focus on yourself, not on solving problems bigger than you.” Yet, every time I see a child carrying a plastic bottle of dirty water, every time I hear a farmer speak of leaving his land because of electricity shortages, I know why I cannot stop.
My journey also extends beyond engineering. As part of the UPG Sustainability Leadership program, I am developing projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). This opportunity has allowed me to connect with changemakers worldwide, to share ideas, and to discover that no matter where we come from, Africa, Asia, Europe, or the Middle East, we are united by one truth: the planet is our shared home.
Sometimes, I imagine writing a letter to the future. In it, I would tell future generations: “We tried. We did not stay silent. We turned our pain into action and our fear into courage.” I want them to know that even when the world seemed broken, some of us chose to build.
If I could leave one message to the world, it would be this: never underestimate the power of small actions. Too often we think change must be massive, political, or global. But in reality, it begins with us, choosing to save water, to walk instead of drive, to listen instead of argue, to care instead of ignore. If each of us carried this mindset, the world would look very different.
I dream of a day when Sinjar is no longer remembered only as the site of genocide but also as a symbol of rebirth. I dream of a world where women, minorities, and young people are not just participants but leaders. I dream of a planet where energy is clean, water is safe, and every community thrives in dignity.
This diary is not just a reflection of my journey, it is an invitation. An invitation to anyone reading these words to believe in their own power to create change. Because if someone like me, from a community that has endured so much suffering, can still dream and act, then surely, you can too.
Sozdan Zaid Hamid