Humans of Tehran

I had a very strange life. I'm Russian from my dad's side and Kuwati from my mothers side. In the beginning of my life everything was very exciting. My father was a chocolate and snacks trader and in a way was on one of the few who brought Nutella to Iran. But the story soon changed because when I was 11 my father went bankrupt and we were forced to sell everything and move from our neighborhood in Kamraniyeh to a basement in Karaj. The only thing I was able to take with myself was my laptop which I used to learn web design. I have been doing web design since I was 14 and with the money I saved up, despite the wishes of my father and mother, I moved to Germany. For one and a half years I worked in the city of Cologne, I was studying hotel management while also working as a dish washer at a bar. After a while, out of curiosity, I tried cocaine and later became addicted. I was addicted for several months till I returned to Iran for Christmas but I was then unfortunately conscripted into the military and unable to return. Some time after, my parents divorced and I saw my self in the worst circumstances. Days passed, but in the meantime I got lucky and was exempted form military service and the land that was my mother's inheritance for 30 years was sold. I am now 23 and heading to Canada. I've been through a lot. When I was 4 I lost my older brother and in front my very eyes I saw my first girlfriend die in a car crash. But through all the ups and downs, I realize that life is still worth living and none of my past experiences condemn me to unfulfillment. Edmond. Guitar player

My name is Yasaman, I studied business in college and received a MBA. I have been working as an accountant for a number of years now but I always had an interest in art. Wherever artistic work was available, I tried to make some money on the side. When I completed my studies I decided to pursue my artistic interests because I have never been more successful than when I followed the things I was most passionate about. I have tried many different artistic styles but I noticed that I had a particular talent for ceramic pottery, so a colleague and I started a ceramics workshop. But after two years I felt as if the workshop did not display my works or talent in the way I originally planned. For this reason I opened up different studio called WabiSabi with my sister Azar. Wabi Sabi is a Japanese philosophical concept that references the phenomenon of being when it comes to objects. Objects are not in their best or most beautiful form in their completion but rather when they break and  experience wear and tear. For this reason, we shouldn't pursue things to completion, the beauty comes from its incompleteness. We as a studio are also incomplete. We are currently endeavoring to promote the Wabi Sabi culture in Iran and want to support artists who are growing but also have some faults they are working with. This is exactly what we want because perfectionism takes up takes up so much of our valuable time and plenty of art is wasted in this pursuit. In this way, we believe that the tastes and perceptions that people have will change. Yasaman and Azar. Business owners

Back in high school, we were forced to study either science or mathematics. And well, since I didn’t have the choice to study my favorite subject, I made the decision to join my family’s business even though I knew it wasn’t the right thing for me. When I was 30, I made the final decision to step into the world of what I truly feel passionate about – I began my career in documentary filmmaking. My world has changed for the better since making that decision and so many good things have come my way, which have transformed me into the person I am today. My advice would be to never pursue something due to the pressure or opinions of others. Follow your passion and what your heart is telling you to do. Mohammad. Documentary filmmaker

I studied graphic design at university, but since I care about the environment, I've always tried to sew the clothes I wear by recycling other garments. Of course, many people think I use second-hand clothes, but I use over-stock which refers to clothes that are not sold in stores for any reason and are completely new. That's why I decided to enter the fashion world in order to promote sustainability and this lifestyle in society. Masoom. Sustainable fashion designer

I’m from Kashan and what I remember from my childhood there is that my city was filled with bicycles and bicyclists. Young and old, people rode bicycles to get to where they were going. Tehran, with its traffic and cars and motorcycles is a bad role model for the rest of the country.  As someone who cares deeply about clear air I created a “clean delivery” initiative in my café.  Every Tuesday, volunteer cyclists enjoy a beverage of their choice as our guests and pedal to deliver our orders to customers. We hope that in the exchange of goods process, the customers will be introduced to the concept that bicycles are not just for fun and recreation and to encourage the use of bicycles for business and transportation. Elnaz. Cafe owner

In 6th grade I had a teacher who started to recite a poem of Saadi but then forgot the lines. I piped in with the next lines and the teacher then asked me to read the poem in its entirely from beginning to end. In those years I also liked to listen to the classical music of Mohammad Reza Shajarian and Shahram Nazeri and although my taste sometimes made me an object of mockery by my peers it also got me approval and encouragement by my teachers. My interest in music and literature has caused me to pursue a different path in life. My best friend calls me “grandpa”. What can I say, I’m old-fashioned, good or bad! Mahdi. Translator

I am from Kashan and have an apothecary shop in Tehran. Every year, in the middle of Spring, I would go to Kashan for the rosewater festival to bring fresh rosewater for sale. But after Covid-19 and its restrictions, I had to stay in Tehran and perform the rosewater making myself; this is how Kashan came to Tehran. Zahra Khanoom

For years I worked in the media and also moonlighted as a translator. I’m from the city of Rasht in the Gillan province and that’s where my heart is. Two years ago with the encouragement of friends, I started a business selling Gillani products. In the beginning I was completely stressed out because neither myself, nor anyone in my family had any prior business experience. My father was a teacher and my mother was an office worker. But what drives me to continue is not money but the utmost importance of acquainting people with the culture of Gillan. I want everyone in the country to realize that in Gilan we have artisanal cheese that are on par with the best French cheese. That we have cultural icons like Hushang Ebethaj, Fahimeh Akbar and Ashurpoor. That Rasht is more than its famous square, bazaar, forests and sea. That Rasht is a city full of injury and pains that must be seen and heard. Mahsa. Business Owner

I was one of the first people that created artistic murals, in the small and religious city of “Aran va Bidgol” in the province of Isfahan.11 years ago, I decided to become independent and move to Tehran. It didn’t matter to me what people would make of it and I didn’t care what people would say. I did it and I made a success of it. What I’ve learned from my 35 years is that the world is filled with people who are lost and that life is short and you should follow your heart and live life as you want to live it.If my voice would reach every cornerI would scream, vouching for joyfor couragefor experiencefor life… something so essentialfor the innocence that must not be lost Fatemeh. Painter

I’m from a small village called Kachal-Abad in the Ardabil province and lived there for the first 10 years of my life. What drove my family to migrate to the city was the unrelenting phasing out of agricultural fields. It was not an easy thing to witness, it hurt the soul, and caused the migration of not just my family but many others like us. I spent my youth in Qazvin where I studied and then I came to Tehran in pursuit of work. There is a community of us who originally hail from Kachal-Abad and now sell stock or second hand clothing in Tehran. Ali Agha. Stock clothing vendor.

In 2019 I launched a startup that has since been my priority. Entering the entrepreneurial startup space is like riding an airborne train that is not bound by the rules of logic and physics. You know that you may get sick and nauseous and may even derail but it is a ride that I nevertheless accepted the risks of wholeheartedly. Unfortunately though I don’t see a bright future for the startup ecosystem in Iran. A startups success depends in part on dedicated hard work but it also greatly depends on the opportunities and circumstances of its ecosystem. I have heard a lot of lip-service about such opportunities existing in Iran’s startup ecosystem but in reality there is a dearth of investment and investors and a lack of a true recognition of the business value we offer. Business innovation can be the savior of the country’s economy and improving the lifestyle of the population but without proper care and attention it won’t have a chance of survival. Saman. Entrepreneur

I remember when I would go to school, I had no interest in mathematics. I had a teacher who was old and scary, who one day asked me a question that I did not know how to solve. She said to me in a particular tone, “you do not want to study math at all, go home and draw your art!!” That day, I became very sad. But now when I think back to that moment, I realise that she was right. I should’ve listened to her from the start and spent time on the things I was passionate about, like art. That way, I wouldn’t have wasted all this time pursuing things I did not enjoy. In my opinion, every person should follow their passions and not let others make those decisions for them. In these difficult times, there is only place where I find peace: A place where art is the answer.

When I took over custody of Dougy, I learned a lot about the Chow Chow breed of dogs and I did not know that this breed originates from cold climates. However, from that day onwards I dedicated myself fully to providing Dougy the best living conditions. I installed two air conditioners in my home, I don't go on trips and I know that for the next 20 years I will be committed to him. Seeing as dogs are dependent animals, the most important thing one can do is research about their needs before taking on the responsibility of caring for them. Sara.

I wish you all to have a wonderful Norooz. It’s a celebration of new beginnings, so let’s hope for better and more healthy days. Sale no mobarak.

My grandmother always wanted a grandson and hoped that I would be a boy. However, the question that always arose during my childhood was: "What can a boy do that I cannot do?" Because of this, I remember that during my childhood I would wrestle with and beat up my male cousin who was taller than me. I would do this because I sincerely believed that many things are not even related to your gender and this should not limit anyone. This is why I have a bold and daring spirit and why "never" means nothing to me. Of course, I have to also acknowledge that my mother and father supported me a lot. Sahar. Entrepreneur

Emad. Cafe manager

Sanaz. Sculptor