‘Kindness is the main thing in life’: Syrian refugee endures child labour before realizing dream of opening tailor shop

Adam finds out how a Syrian refugee endured war and child labour to realize a dream through tailoring.

VICTORIA, B.C. — “That’s a picture of me when I was one year and three months,” Ali Alahj Obid says, smiling and holding up his phone to show a toddler sitting in front of a backdrop depicting a city skyline.

Not long after his younger self posed with that picture of a city, Ali started seeing real buildings bombed.

“In Syria, all I can remember is the war,” Ali says, adding he’ll never forget the friends and family he lost. “I really don’t prefer to talk much about it because it hurts.”

While his family eventually found temporary safety moving to Turkey, Ali had to start working full time to support them when he was 12.

“(It was) scary,” Ali says. “Tough.”

The boy worked at a clothing factory, doing 12 hour shifts, almost six days a week.

“In the break times, I started sitting at the (empty) machines,” Ali says. “Discovering how to use (them).”

Ali taught himself how to sew, and started designing and crafting clothes for his mom and younger sisters when he was 13.

“It felt like a big achievement,” Ali recalls with a smile.

Although he got so good he was promoted to manager at 17, Ali was not passionate about the profession.

“There is no way to love it,” Ali says. “When you work there you are just like a machine.”

Ali would find solace spending time with his family, and watching YouTube videos about Canada.

“It was a dream to come and be here one day,” Ali smiles.

So you can imagine how Ali felt when, after applying to multiple countries, his family was accepted to immigrate here.

“I can’t express it in words,” Ali beams.

When they arrived, Ali earned a job sewing, was accepted into college, and fell in love.

“This is my wedding suit,” Ali points to a grey three-piece suit.

Ali made it from scratch, while also tailoring a wedding dress for his wife.

“Tailoring to me is not just sewing,” Ali says. “It’s an art.”

It’s now Ali’s passion, which he couldn’t be more grateful to share, after realizing his dream of opening his own tailoring and alterations business.

“My hope is to be helpful,” the 21-year-old smiles. “And pay back Canada.”

After his life was torn apart by war, Ari is committed to stitch it back together, by using his skills to be of service.

“Kindness is the main thing in life. Helping others,” Ali smiles. “I care about putting smiles on people’s faces.”