Salman Khairalla: an environmental human rights defender with an interest in water
Salman Khairalla from Iraq studies at IHE Delft to bring an interesting twist to his already impactful career in water governance. An environmental human rights defender with an interest in water that traces back to secondary school. He is pursuing the MSc in Water Sustainability Development and specializing in Water, Food, and Energy to further develop his academic skills.
It is my dream to study at IHE Delft. Despite a few setbacks due to the language barrier, I was accepted last year and became part of the IHE Delft community. Being a student after 10 years is not easy, but I am enjoying it.
It is my dream to study at IHE Delft. At IHE Delft, you always think about water.
Studying at IHE Delft
IHE Delft gives you the possibility to choose. At IHE Delft, you always think about water. With its interdisciplinary nature, the MSc programme allows me to change between tracks or profiles according to my interests, and this is what I find interesting. If a module is not related to governance , I can change it, and pursue a track or profile that aligns with my work in Iraq. We can get advice from our mentors, but in the end it is our choice.
Being here is special because this MSc programme pushes you to challenge your bias. For instance, in a role-play activity, I was always assigned roles far from civil society. This was intentional, meant to push me to see things from different perspectives. I am an activist, always fighting. But suddenly, when I came here, I started learning about situatedness, biased positionality, and the importance of shaping and analysing knowledge from different angle. It is not easy, but at IHE Delft, it is possible.
Mahmoud S. Rabbani Scholarship
I needed a scholarship because I did not want to miss the opportunity to start studying at IHE Delft. This led me to explore the possibilities through the website, and I found out about the Mahmoud S. Rabbani Scholarship, which supports Arab students who have been admitted to a Master or PhD in the Netherlands. Getting the Mahmoud S. Rabbani Scholarship was a challenge, especially since I live outside of Iraq. However, with the guidance of IHE Delft’s staff, I was fortunate to be one of the three recipients selected this year.
A path in water advocacy
I would say my interest for water started around two decades ago, during the civil war in Iraq. Seeing how vital water is for people, opened a light in my mind about creating a possible water organisation. At that time, I did not have a clear idea of what was going on, however seeing people having to leave their city because of water scarcity made me think.
As time passed, I started looking for more information, which eventually led me to pursue a bachelor in Environmental Science. From there, I developed my knowledge and career in water issues, focusing on civil society. I founded Iraq's first environmental water movement, Humat Dijlah Association, which started with just two people and has now grown to over 500 volunteers across the country. We fight for water quality and accessibility, which we consider fundamental human rights.
I founded Iraq's first environmental water movement, Humat Dijlah Association, which started with just two people and has now grown to over 500 volunteers across the country.
Water situation in Iraq
The water situation in Iraq is still quite unstable. Before coming to IHE Delft, I had a very specific way of analysing these issues. However, studying at IHE Delft helped me redefine these concepts, and now I can see clearer the situation back home. It is a complex puzzle, and I am only a small part of it. However, with everyone’s contribution, the full puzzle can be completed in a few years for the next generations.
After graduation
In the beginning, I thought I would stick to small scale research to help people in my country and my movement. However, now I am leaning towards a PhD and an academic career to enrich my knowledge and develop my ideas on paper. There is so much to do, passion to bring a change is what matters.
To someone aiming to pursue the same path: if you are really considering studying water and environment, being at IHE Delft is one of the great opportunities to do so. Do it today, not tomorrow. It is worth it, and it will be rewarding.
If you are really considering studying water and environment, being at IHE Delft is one of the great opportunities to do so.
Interested?
IHE Delft offers two Master of Science programmes: the MSc in Water and Sustainable Development and the Research MSc in Water and Sustainable Development. In addition, IHE Delft is part of several joint MSc Programmes offered with partner institutes.
