Dashni Morad

Dashni Morad (, ; born 1 January 1986) is a Kurdish singer, songwriter, television presenter, human rights & environmental activist. Born in Iraqi Kurdistan, she moved to Holland as a refugee with her family in 1997. She rose to prominence in 2005 through her television show, "Bê Kontrol", which was the first of its kind in the Kurdistan Region to explore pop culture and related aspects of contemporary Western culture candidly. Many people in the Kurdistan Region, particularly the youth, consider Dashni to have broken down cultural and traditional barriers for young women.

In 2009, Dashni began her musical career with the release of her first album, "Hela Hopa", which although successful was also controversial. Although many of the younger generation appreciated her music and music videos, the more conservative side of society saw them as inappropriate. She founded "Green Kids" in 2012, which is a charity focused on underprivileged children, in particular refugee children, as well as the environment. Morad has been actively working to try and improve conditions at the refugee camps in the Kurdistan Region, and through campaigns has managed to donate significant money and aid. She is also a prominent campaigner for women’s rights and is seen as an inspirational feminist figure to many young women in the Kurdistan Region She was one of the first Kurdish female artists to appear as a pop singer and dancer and opened the gate for other Kurdish girl to become successful singers just like her. Morad, then aged 5, was forced to flee to the Iranian border with her family, until it was safe to return home. She also used to play football as a teenager, until her parents forced her to leave because of cultural reasons. In 2009, she began her music career with the release of her first album, "Hela Hupa", which although successful was also controversial.

2012–14: New beginnings Having left her old producer, in 2012, Morad released her first English single, "Open Your Eyes", which was not only a hit in the Kurdistan Region, but also the wider Iraq, Lebanon and Holland. "Open Your Eyes" was produced by Gary Stevenson and written by Goran Kay. thumb This image shows us making the music video to Open Your Eyes. Morad also in 2012, began presenting a new talk show, "Shepolakani Jiyan", or "Waves of Life", where she focused on education, women’s rights and environmental issues. Later that same year, Morad collaborated with the Kurdish musical trio Le Dinê, to release the single "Take Me Home". Also in 2013, Morad was offered a record deal by a Lebanese music label to release her album in 24 countries. Hom Shika Wawa (Album/2010) Frishtay Mihreban (Album/2011) I Am (Open Your Eyes) (Single/2012) Binaz (Karwan Kamil ft. Dashni Morad) (Single/2012) Power of Love (Single/2013) Take Me Home (Le Dinê ft. Dashni Morad) (Single/2013)

Charity work Morad is a human rights and environmental activist. She founded "Green Kids" in 2012, which is a charity focused on underprivileged children, in particular refugee children, as well as the environment. Amongst other things, Green Kids provides books and learning materials to schools. To date, Green Kids has distributed over 200,000 books to underprivileged children.

Morad has been actively working to try and improve the conditions at the refugee camps in the Kurdistan Region. In 2013, Morad ran a region-wide campaign and raised $50,000 from public donations for the Domuz Syrian Refugee Camp in the Kurdistan Region. In September 2015, in partnership with Hoby Group Iraq and Adra Kurdistan, Green Kids opened a mini-library at the Baharka Refugee Camp near Erbil. The library provides books in English, Arabic and Kurdish. In April 2016, Morad also collected toys and books donated by school children from the Annie MG Schmidt School in Arnhem (Holland), for her second Mini Children's Library in a refugee camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which she plans to open in 2016.

Morad has been actively campaigning for and supporting captured and internally displaced Yazidis since 2014. She is currently running a campaign called "Yazidi Girls", aimed at raising money and awareness in support of Yazidis and other minorities who have suffered at the hands of the so-called Islamic State in Iraq. In 2014, Morad collected over 30 tons of aid in cooperation with Mala Ezidi Kalkar, donated by people from her local community in Arnhem, for internally displaced Yazidis in the Kurdistan Region.

Morad is also a prominent campaigner for women’s rights and is seen as an inspirational feminist figure to many young women in the Kurdistan Region. She is currently running a campaign, "Female Voices of the World", which aims to provide a platform for women to speak out and share their stories with one another, where before they were are unable.