A civil war can cause so many forms of trauma and everyone suffers from their own wounds. Maybe the loss of a loved one. Maybe having experienced violence. Even the memory of what life used to be can haunt you. Syrians cope in a lot of different ways, except therapy. We find our own solutions, commonly to laugh at the absurdity of it all. To me, having to rely on the help of other people, without having anything to offer back, was the worst thing. That is why, when I one day found a lone kitten on the side of the road, I felt some strange sense of strength. To this small creature, I could become a savior. Said and done, I brought him home. I took an old box and put an old towel inside so that he could stay warm and feel safe. I would not let anything happen him. In the beginning I would carry him around in the pocket of my hoodie, but each day he grew and at one point he would not fit anymore!
The feeling of being able to help someone was what kept me going through my own hardships. I lost my childhood and I will never get it back, but being able to save his has given me comfort. Now, when the war is over, I realized that he also helped me. Both in regards of getting through the difficult times, but also to see a brighter future.
Today, my dream is to open a sanctuary for small animals and help them receive a more beautiful life. They also deserve a second chance at a life they did not choose. That is why my trauma has become my therapy and my therapy has become a passion that I hope will be a small contribution to the beautiful future of Syria.
European Syria Institute 