Blind girl from Syria’s Aleppo overcomes life challenges
Asma' Darwish, a blind girl from Aleppo – North Press
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – Asma’ Darwish, a 27-year-old blind girl, moves her fingers gently with the hook to produce the finest pieces of wool objects.
Darwish, hails from Salah al-Din neighborhood in Aleppo, northern Syria, has been blind since she was a baby girl.
Sitting opposite to the wool and straw pieces she has made, Darwish told North Press, “I did not want to be weak and give up. I pursued my education and I finished university.”
Darwish’s life was full of agony. She joined an ordinary primary school where she suffered big psychological pressure as all the other students could see, unlike her.
She remained there until her parents transferred her to a special school for the blind in Aleppo city. There, she could find some peace and rest, according to Asmaa.
“In the new school, my daughter’s method of study changed and she started loving school again,” Darwish’s father, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
University life
Darwish said she had lots of friends at school. Her family and teachers had a big role to help her pass high school. Then, she studied sociology at Damascus university.
In the first year, she faced difficulties and many students were surprised she could pursue education. Some of the students even told her she lied about being blind.
Then, after Darwish made some friends, she could overcome the difficulties. “I started recording lectures and writing them down with Braille System.”
Braille System consists of arrangements of dots which make up letters of the alphabet, numbers, and punctuation marks. It is a code of 63 characters, each made up of one to six raised dots arranged in a six-position matrix or cell.
Darwish’s biggest problem, then, was to how to get out. She constantly needed a companion to lead her. Her father and brother used to do the job at university and in the primary school a bus designated for the blind drove her.
Darwish soak the straw in water to be easy to fold and make objects. Darwish consider herself strong as she has succeeded to overcome the obstacles she faced being a blind girl. She attributes her success to her parents and family who gave her faith and aspiration.
Hidden talents discovered
Asma’ has handicrafts like knitting and making straw baskets. She is also an employee at Aleppo hospital, her mother told North Press.
With a beautiful trustful smile, Asma’ explained to North Press that her passion for knitting started when she was 17. “I asked my mother to teach me how to weave and she agreed.”
“I needed to concentrate, so I memorized the numbers of stitching and I started to make different creative objects skillfully,” Asma’ said.
Her mother picked the colors for her and determined the size of the object she was about to make, according to Asma’.
As soon as I became skillful, I started working from home. “This job made me feel busy all the time.”
Asma’ started making hand-made plates, boxes, and hats as if her long-hidden talent suddenly discovered.
Darwish said she learnt to make straw objects at an institute for the blind when she was just a little girl.
Years later, the young Darwish took part in several exhibitions and artisan workshops.
Darwish added that she felt satisfied because she discovered herself and her abilities. “the handicap means to be diligent not to give up.”
Although she is a blind girl, Darwish lives as a normal person. She does the housework. She uses her senses with concentration. For example, she knows the coffee is boiling when she hears change in the water sound. She knows that the amount of coffee she puts in the coffee pot is enough when she knocks the spoon on the pot.
Asma’ calls on the community to accept the handicapped and give them a chance to prove their abilities.