2015, August 15

Introducing Abdul Jabar and his sister Marwa. A report prepared by Amr Kurdi, one of our graduate students.

From a home that protects them to a tent in the outdoors, and from a homeland that gathers them with warmth to the pain of expatriation, vagrancy, and the continuous search for a residence.

This is the story of the child ‘Abdul Jabar’ and his sister ‘Marwa’ whom I met at Al-Salam school. His features recounted a story far older than his age. The start of his tragedy began with him leaving the city of Homs with his parents… They left and lived in a tent… There weren’t any schools and they weren’t pursuing an education, but they were happy they were secure in a tent. However, the sounds of bullets added to their fears. This was the start of their journey with vagrancy and dispersion in foreign lands that know no poor or needy… Nevertheless, there were kind-earthed people who welcomed them and provided them with food and shelter, and these were people they did not even know… But, the father of the child was heartbroken; he could not bear the feeling of dependence on others, so he searched for work that would enable him to provide a living for his children… He managed to find a job, and with his first paycheck rented a place for his family. However, they were not lucky for long, because shortly after, the father got sick and consequently lost his job, and it was like bad luck was one of the war remnants left for this poor family. The father was sick for four months, and during this period had to borrow money from some family acquaintances, and the debts piled up… This forced them to leave the home they rented and reside once more in a tent, that protected them neither from the heat of summer nor from the cold of winter, and they owned nothing but the floor mats and mattresses on which they slept.

And one day, while their brother was passing by the school, he asked one of the students what this building was, so the student answered that this was Al-Salam school! And so ‘Abdul Jabar’ and his sister ‘Marwa’ enrolled in the school and this was their door from darkness and dispersion to enlightenment and a brighter future. They were very happy they were attending Al-Salam school, especially after the hardships they endured. Education and knowledge were now their friends, especially that they weren’t introduced before to the new education methods, but rather, recalled school as a place that scares students. This old image in their minds changed, now that they have seen school as the parent that protects; protects them from the insecurities that they face, and provides with the physical and psychological support that they need… They also needed that “parent” institution that would provide them with their necessities from clothing, book, backpacks, and supplies, and help them to hide their poverty and be similar to their peers. They needed this environment to make friends; something they’ve been missing for some time.

I asked ‘Abdul Jabar’ what was the one special thing he liked about his teacher, and the answer amazed me, I could not believe an answer so meaningful could come out of the mouth of a young 10-year old…. He said “I love my teacher and my school, and I wait for the dawn and cannot wait for it to come, so that I can wear my uniform and go to school!”