SYRIA. Derek. Rojava. Cicek's family members, from right to left: Rojin (sister), 20; Nasiba (mother), 60; Laila, 19; Barivan, 30.
Cicek's older brother is a gun smuggler and sells arms to YPJ/YPG. Cicek met YPG members at his brother's house and became familiar with their idealogy. Then one night, at the age of 13, she left her house to join become a YPJ member in Qandil mountain.
Nobody heard of her again, until four years later she was seen carrying the coffin of one of her comrades in her hometown of Derek. She left the next day without saying goodbye to her family, telling them that after getting Kobane back from ISIS, she'd visit them."