An estimated nine million Syrians have fled their homes since the outbreak of civil war in March 2011, with over three million fleeing to neighbouring countries and some 240,000 finding refuge in the Kurdish region of Iraq. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) estimates nearly 8,000 Syrian children and youth are living in Sulaymaniyah and most do not attend school.
The UNHCR launched the "Refugees Got Talent" competition to mark World Refugee Day and showcase the talents of young refugees of university age.
While some primary education is provided for children up to ninth grade, it is hard for young refugees to get places in secondary schools and universities mainly because their families do not have enough money to pay for fees, materials or transport
Being locked out of education leaves many young people bored in the camp and the "Refugees Got Talent" event was devised as a way to showcase their skills, ranging from singing to breakdancing.
