HOME

A A BOY’S S JOURNEY Y TRYING T R G TO T O FIND
D

HOME HOME started started out out as as an an experiment. experiment. An An
experiment experiment to to release release one one panel panel of of a a
comic comic book book story story every every day day of of Ramadan --
a Ramadan a Ramadan story. story. We We wanted to to tell tell a story
that that was was relevant, but but still still had had a a good
feel feel to to it, it, so so we we chose to to tell tell a a story that
focused both both on on the the hardships of of being a
refugee with with no no home and and also on on how Ramadan
is is a a time when people get together
and and find find trust and and hope in in the comfort of
each each other.
The The story of of Firas and Hilal is is a a story of
hardship, friendship, and hope, and now it it
is is presented as as a a complete, five-page story
for for the the first first time. We We hope you liked it. it.
Thank you you so so much to to everyone who
followed along along on on Instagram for for your
interest, shares, likes, likes, and and comments on on
the the HOME HOME comic-book experiment.
— HOME comic book team
— HOME comic book team
Story by Sam Khoubrouy Pak
Story Art by & Sam Colors Khoubrouy by Maysam Pak Barza
Art & Lettering Colors by & Art Maysam Direction Barza by Sam Khoubrouy Pak
Lettering Edited & by Art Brendan Direction Wright by Sam Khoubrouy Pak
Edited
Production
by Brendan
Manager
Wright
Eske Knudsen Rostgård
Production
Executive
Manager
Producer
Eske
Fahad
Knudsen
Al Saud
Rostgård
Executive Producer Fahad Al Saud

Once upon a time...
there was peace in
my hometown.
My childhood was like
every other kid in this
world--play, eat, sleep,
and repeat.
I was born in a middle-class
family. My father had a store,
selling nuts, and my mom
took care of the house.
Hilal came with
me everywhere.
And i had my
cat, Hilal.
Firas,
you are grown-up
enough to fast with
us tomorrow if
you want.
I can't forget the
I feeling can't forget of the the
morn-
feeling sun, of the the pigeons, morning
the sun, sound the of pigeons,
Adhan,
the and sound the Suhur of Adhan,
meal.*
and the Suhur meal.*
*
Each year, on the first
night of Ramadan, we
went to my taita's* house.
*Grandmother
my Eighth ramadan
my Eighth seventh ramadan
*Call*A to meal prayer. before sunrise during Ramadan
**A*A *A meal before sunrise during Ramadan.

*
The souq was different
during Ramadan,
**
the sound
of Adhan bouncing in
the arcs of the Bazaar.
I can't forget the
feeling of the morning
sun, the pigeons,
the sound of Adhan,
and the Suhur meal.*
Yalla, baba!
Let’s go home
for iftar.
*Market place.
**A holy month during which Muslims fast between the hours of sunrise and sunset.
Some days my dad and I would
go and give food to the people
stuck in traffic during iftar. *
*Evening meal after sunset during Ramadan.
my Eighth ramadan
other days my dad and the other
shop owners made iftar to share
with the poor.
*A meal before sunrise during Ramadan
Ramadan was a month of
celebration, of kindness
and caring for each other.
We should
go somewhere
we can be
safe.
But--
No but.
I’ll pack
tomorrow.
My mom told me I could only
take my bag and what I could
fit inside. it was so hard to
decide what I should take.
Hilal fit, but not everything.
Meow
on my ninth Ramadan, it
came out of nowhere--
the black shadow of war
surrounded our iftar.

But it was
too late...
I don't remember
much, except for
Hilal in my lap.
the next day,
we left our
home.
We walked and
walked for a few
months. To where,
I didn't know.
No home, no place to sleep…
we walked like this for days.
Turkey, Tenth Ramadan.
Every iftar and
SUhUr, I thought
of home and Taita.
We learned of a route to Europe
by boat. Rather than staying in the
camp we took our chances, along
with many others...
The smugglers had taken all
our Along money. with This 300 was others now our we gave
last all hope, our money same as to the smugglers.
other
300 This people boat was with our us on last the hope. boat.

Everybody around me
were scared, and I felt
alone. Some of the men
talked about the water,
and how they couldn't
stop it. I held Hilal close.
The boat had been taking in water
for hours when we were finally
rescued. They saved our lives.
Greece, Eleventh Ramadan.
When we reached
the shore, everyone
was crying.
Things got tougher--I had
to work, as my family had
lost everything to keep us
safe, and we couldn’t fast.
I made $4 per day.
The winter was
cold and dark.
We couldn't leave the
next day, but something
happened…
I
can't take it
anymore.
Where?
We will leave
tomorrow.
I don’t
know...
Thank
you.

You can
talk...?
Wha...at?
Of
course I
can...You just
didn't need
me to.
Seems crazy,
but That’s How
I remember it.
I am
so tired.
I can't.
Do you
want to have
another Ramadan...
another iftar...
another round
of Taita’s
food?
Yes!
You
should be
strong. We are
not far away
now.
Then
you should
continue
and never
give up.
I am with
you.
After two weeks,
we left and walked
for months.
Hilal,
Slow
down!
Can
you scratch
me behind the
ears?
We are
almost
there.
Where?
...
We walked on the
railroads to keep
from getting lost.
Bosnia, Twelfth Ramadan.
We were in a country
where people were
fasting for Ramadan.
They had also suffered
from war, and
they shared what they
had with us for iftar.
We
can't go
without
you.
I
found a driver
to take you two
to the other
side.
We
don't have
any other
choice.
SHUKRAN!*
*Thank you
As a kid, I didn’t know what
was going on. I just knew I
missed my bed back at home.

I felt whatever I had
left in life was fading
away--our house,Taita,
Ramadan, and now my
father.
Finally! The
safe place.
He
will find
you.
Now
we are here,
I don’t have
anything else
to say...
wait, No!
meow
Germany,
thirteenth
Ramadan.
Now we have iftar
together, but
without Taita…
Habibi, *
Did you finish
your homework?
My Dad finally came back
to us so we could have
this ramadan together,
in our new home.
Ja,
ich habe sie
gemacht.
Alles
gut. **
*My dear. **Yes, I’ve done it. All good!
I always think how much
easier it would have been
to travel by airplane than
walk for four years to
be somewhere safe.
I come every Eid
*
to the airport
and think of Taita’s house and
the sound of Adhan, which is
like a fresh breeze that travels
through my hometown.
Germany, twentyfourth
Ramadan.
Hilal,
do you remember
Taita’s food?
purrr...
MEOW
*End of Ramadan celebration.
The End

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate
change by 2030.
Our governments have a plan to save our planet…it’s our job to make sure they stick to it.
you don’t know what they are. We believe the Goals are only going to be completed if we can
make them famous.
Goal 10 REDUCED INEQUALITIES – Reduce inequality within and among
countries
An important subset of Goal 10 is 10.7: facilitate orderly, safe, and responsible
migration and mobility of people, including through implementation of planned
and well-managed migration policies.
Comics Uniting Nations is a partnership of UNICEF, PCI Media
Impact, PVBLIC Foundation and Reading with Pictures, to make the
Sustainable Development Goals accessible to the citizens of the
world through comics.

HOME
Artist Maysam Barza’s process for
creating pages of HOME. It all starts with
the script, which breaks the pages down
into panels.
First, Maysam provides thumbnail
sketches of each panel for approval.

Maysam adds color to
complete the pages.
Maysam creates more
detailed line art for
the final version. Note
the addition of Hilal in
panels 2, 4, and 6, as
he became a more
important presence in
the story.

“I loved it and made my friend [read it] too.”
-MARWA_HAWSAWI
“Yes please !!! Much much more.”
-HALAREDWAN
“I love HOME! Especially Hilal.
Please make more about cats.”
-MUNNERAKHALID
FIRAS lives with his family in the only home he’s ever known, when suddenly
everything changes. With his cat Hilal by his side, Firas must leave their home
behind and walk with his family for several years into an unknown journey.