Yazid, Farhad Shamo, a survivor of the genocide in Shangala, was among the top 50 finalists of the "Global Student Award 2021 "competition Chegg.org".
"Global Student Award Chegg.org — this is an award in the amount of $ 100,000, awarded to an exceptional student who has had a real impact on learning, the lives of his peers and on society beyond," the organization that established the award said in a statement.
In 2019, Shamo was also awarded the Institute of Management Award, and in 2020 he was named the European leader of the Obama Foundation.
"Despite the fact that Farhad grew up in poverty, he did his homework every night by the light of an oil lamp and worked in parallel with his studies, the young man graduated from high school in 2013 with excellent grades," says the biography of Shamo on the official website of the award.
"However, in August 2014, the so-called Islamic State invaded his region, which conducted an elaborate campaign of genocide to destroy his people. Men were killed, women and girls were abducted, and little boys were taken away for brainwashing. Farhad survived the genocide with his life, but lost everything, including his best friends and classmates."
After the genocide, Shamo became a volunteer and activist, helping to provide assistance to the Yazidi community. He told IA K24 that he was chosen among 3,500 applicants from 94 countries because of his compassion for people in need.
"This is also due to my academic achievements, despite the fact that I survived the genocide, spent many years in a camp and was a refugee in France. My history and past are unique, but so are all the others. Everyone's story deserves to be listened to, "and the history of the Yazidis is the story of" an existential struggle. Today we need to work hard and make all our efforts to make the international community aware of our ongoing suffering, " Farhad Shamo said.
Shamo explained that he considers his candidacy as a "recognition of the suffering" of the Yazidis, expressing the hope that this will raise awareness about the situation of representatives of the ethno-religious minority in Iraq. Farhad said he has received many congratulatory messages from the Yazidi community, which hopes that " even the survivors will be able to stand up and make a difference."
The young Yezid expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Varki Foundation and Chegg.org for the fact that they considered the possibility of including him in the shortlist of the 50 best finalists.
The top 10 contenders for the World Student Award will be announced in mid-October, and the award ceremony will take place at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, France, in November.