Kurdish teacher Zak Amin on April 19 received the 2024 Education Minnesota Human Rights Award for teaching Kurdish at Moorhead High School in Moorhead, Minnesota.

“A Kurdish refugee himself, he teaches the language and culture to the growing Kurdish student population in Moorhead,” Education Minnesota said in a post on X on April 20.

Minnesota is a midwestern U.S. state bordering Canada and has nearly 5.75 million residents.

“I started teaching Kurdish this year in August. I will teach Kurdish level two next year. The class had to be approved by the school board,” Amin told Kurdistan Chronicle.

Zak Amin is our 2024 Human Rights Award winner! A Kurdish refugee himself, he teaches the language and culture to the growing Kurdish student population in Moorhead. #edmnrc #edmnproud pic.twitter.com/zSLhzNmnPv

— Education Minnesota (@EducationMN) April 20, 2024

According to an article on Minnesota Public Radio’s North Star Journey, Amin not only teaches Kurdish to his students, but also English as a second language (ESL) to many of their parents, thus bridging a gap between generations.

On December 12, 2023, Amin received the Moorhead City Human Rights Award, which recognizes individuals who excel in community work and education. 

“As an ESL and Heritage language teacher at Moorhead High School, as well as a project manager at the Kurdish American Development Organization, I was privileged to be nominated and ultimately chosen as the recipient, thanks to the support of my community,” he added.

“With the backing of numerous educators across Minnesota, I am humbled to have been selected as the recipient of the prestigious Education Minnesota Human Rights Award. The recent announcement of this honor was made at the Education Minnesota Convention, where I accepted the award last Friday.”

Amin said his dedication to teaching the Kurdish language stems from “the realization that many Kurdish-American youth are disconnected from their cultural heritage, lacking proficiency in their mother tongue and awareness of their history.” 

“By imparting knowledge of Kurdish language, culture, and history, I strive to empower these students to embrace their identity and heritage, fostering a stronger sense of belonging and representation within our society,” he concluded.