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Mohammed Yakub, originally from Thin Ga Net village in Buthidaung Township, Northern Rakhine State, now finds himself in Kutupalong, Cox’s Bazar, as a Rohingya refugee. Despite the hardships he has faced, Mohammed vividly recalls a childhood filled with sports, games, and holidays—a time of joy and companionship with friends from his village and school.

 

"I had two sets of friends, village friends and school friends,’ —Mohammed explains. His village, bisected by a stream and connected by an old bamboo bridge, was the backdrop to his cherished holidays. A keen learner from a young age, Mohammed's aspirations were curtailed by the restrictive policies of the Myanmar government, which barred many Rohingya youths from fulfilling their educational dreams. "I played games and studied and gained all sorts of skills, including computer skills. But everything became difficult when we had to run to Bangladesh," he says, reflecting on the abrupt end to his carefree days.

 

In Bangladesh, Mohammed's education became his lifeline. Selected by Internews and BBC Media Action, he embarked on a journey towards journalism, driven by a deep-seated philosophy: 'If a journalist wants to destroy a country he can, but if he wants to improve a country, he might also do that. My dream is to be a good representative of our culture and this is why I am a journalist.' —he says

 

His current role as a community correspondent, along with his participation in the WFP Storytellers workshop and work with Foundation Hirondelle's community radio project as a Producer, marks his progression towards his journalistic aspirations. Mohammed's goal is to showcase the rich culture of the Rohingya to the world.

 

'All over the world, every ethnicity has its own tradition, culture and at least one museum,' — he explains. 'Apart from the Burmese, no one knows that the Rohingya have a culture of their own. This is why I have decided to present our tradition, culture, story, and history by photography and filming.'

 

Through his photography and filming, Mohammed aims to bring the vibrant culture of the Rohingya to the global stage, advocating for their recognition and rightful place in their beloved Arakan. 'If I can show the world that Rohingya culture belongs to Arakan, maybe they will help us get repatriated sooner,' —he shares, with a mix of hope and determination.