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Ahmad Hakim ! !
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My Name is Ahmad Hakim And I Take Care Of My Family !
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Fatima Zohra Ouhabi ! !
Grade 10! TGS-THINK Global School !
! Dear Syrian Citizens, ! ! ! I admire your courage. For the past three years, you have been fighting for your rights, you have been trying to get heard and make a change. For the past three years, you got hurt, you lost many things but you are still fighting for your freedom. I am sure, one day in the near future you will get to your final goal. All my thoughts and prayers are with you Syria. !
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Warm Regards, ! Fatima. !
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Photography!
A Special Thank You To Special People
! I would like to thank Bruno Gallardo, Luca Sola, Caroline Gluck, and other photographers for capturing different moments of what is going on in Syria and sharing it with the world. Thank you for keeping us informed. !
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! In this graphic novel, I used pictures of different photographers to tell the story of Ahmad Hakim a young Syrian Boy. I have edited the pictures to make them look more graphic, I also muted the pictures into a threshold mode. !
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My Name is Ahmad Hakim And I Take Care Of My Family !
In My shoes
! My name is Ahmad hakim I am a 10 years old kid wandering around the streets of Damascus. My father was killed earlier this week, it was the biggest shock of my life. Since the war started, I have seen many people die, I have seen my own cousins ferociously get taken from us by the military, but when my father died it was a whole different feeling. It was an early saturday morning, surprisingly it was really quiet outside. I only heard a couple of shootings at night. My father, my mother, my brother, younger sister, and myself found refuge at a small garage. The owners ran away to Turkey and kindly let us stay there without any cost. Just like every other morning, my father got ready for the prayer. No fear and no hesitation, he opened our damaged garage door and stepped outside knowing that he could never come back. Impressed, and not taking in consideration what my mother says I followed him to the mosque. I followed his footsteps. We got to the mosque but usually, before the war I would never be able to find my spot inside. We prayed, my father saw me. He came up to me, asked me what I was doing here and that I broke my mother’s rules… how would she feel if anything were to happen to you, he said. He grabbed me by my arm and ordered me to go back home. I am a curious boy, I knew that my father was going to the “light,” I am sure you guys have no idea what the light is. Well the light is the food line, we call it the light because it is the only painful thing that happens to us everyday but does not make us bleed. The line is long, very long. Thousands and thousands of people show up and sometimes when it’s your turn to get food. there’s no ‘aiche’ left, by ache I mean bread, that is what we call it out here. I followed my father, intentionally disregarding his orders. I was amazed by his bravery, to me, even though we did not have much left, no money, no house, no car, he fought everyday for our survival. He is always the last one of us to go to sleep, and by going to sleep I mean laying on his bed next to my mother and watching us; watching us making sure that nothings happens to any of us. I can never close my eyes knowing that my father is still awake. He taught me everything I know, everything I need to know about religion, life, fun, and even marriage. I am a young boy but still, he thought that I needed to start getting informed about the future. Future I said, very dreamy of me right? I do not see any future left for us. Every single day, my country is dying more and more but this morning it was not just my country but hero as well, my father. As I am sitting right now under my tent in Jordan, I feel thankful. I feel thankful that my family and I made made it here safely, my family did I say? I meant what was left of my family. I was raised thinking and believing that the father is the center of the family, that pillar that everybody can lean on at the same time and that will never fall. I guess I was wrong… because it did fall and right under my eyes. Saturday morning, my father got to the light and I remember seeing his facial expression from far away, he felt guilty and I disappointed. He was afraid to have to come back home with empty hands and put his little family to sleep with an empty stomach. He was in line when the military bombed that area, I was on the roof top of another building when it happened and I have witnessed my father’s death. It took less than a minutes to see thousands of people all die at once. I was shocked. I did not know how to react or even what to do. I stood there and watched. I cannot remember what I was thinking about, my brain legitimately stopped processing thoughts for a while or at least that’s how it felt like. I also felt my chest getting very tight, it felt like both of lungs were getting squished together and that my heart was lost in body. I threw up.
I remember throwing up on the roof, then I found myself walking back home. I felt really dizzy, I could barely find my way back. Eventually, I made it home, I told the family and the next thing I remember was being in the desert, hungry and thirsty. I do not remember my mother’s reaction or my siblings’s reaction. Now we live in a refugee camp in Jordan and last week I cried. Now, I cry everyday to sleep. My name is Ahmad Hakim, I am 10 years old and I am responsible for my family. !
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Ahmad Hakim ! !
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My Name is Ahmad Hakim And I Take Care Of My Family !
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! A Cartoon Story Of A Syrian Family !
BOOOOOOM What are you doing here kid? You should go home immediately!
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Okay…but why are you here? And why do you have a gun?
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To protect Syria. Go home now, your mother must be worried!
Hey! Be careful going home child!
I walk around here everyday. I do not see what worse could happen. I am a grown man now, I am no longer a child!
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مدرسة الشام
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I remember when my friends and I played here all the time. Before, I took school as a burden and now and I just want to go back
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العلم نعمة
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I walk by my school everyday. I remember the laughers and the loud noises. We were very happy!
!املدرسة أصبحت خراب
GAGAGAGA GAGG
Ahmad! Where were you? Emmi is mad at yo u!
اهلل معك
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I didn’t go anywhere, I was just walking around the neighborhood brother… How mad is she? Do you know where she is?
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! ! Hey Mom, Khalil told me that your were mad because I went outside today. I promise I did not go outside of the neighborhood!
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I AM SORRY
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I am not allowing you to go out because I want to protect you. I really can’t handle another loss and you don’t seem to be understanding that… Go get cleaned up now and come back, food is ready soon
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Lying to my mom is a bad thing to do but she would never let me go out anyways. I know that she suffered a lot, her sister, he father, her brother, and he mom were murdered by the government but if I stay at home I will never be able to make a change. I need to free SYRIA
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r ghbo d for i e n r e pray zi, ou Ram day. We que. mos ed to )إنا pass im at the هلل و إ h
نا إلي ه ر ا ج (عون
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I’ve heard Aicha, told me about it. God help his family, his poor wife is left alone taking care of their twins. The times are tough now… who will go to the food line for her now? Speaking of that Salem, you should go tomorrow we are running out of food.
My father woke up the next morning and went to the “light.” My mother walked him to the door and I followed him right away. Emmi, this time allowed me to go with him but only to the mosque and I had to return home as soon the prayer was over.
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Ahmad! Be safe and come back home as soon as the prayer is over!
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أشهد أن ال إاله إال اهلل و أشهد أن محمدا رسول اهلل
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اهلل اكبر
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The prayer is over, you should go home now. I am going to the light to get food and I will come back right away. Be safe and do not go anywhere where you are not supposed to be! Do you
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Yes, I do
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As soon as my father had his back turned, I followed him. I was aware that I was breaking all the rules but I felt like it was my duty to follow my father and protect him just like he is protecting me. I also wanted to the light, I have never been and my friend Amir tells me about it all the time. He always says that there’s over 5000 person in line.
! This is the light, I can see my father way in the back. He looks disappointed.
Bread! Bread! Right here look!!
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The Line was huge, there were thousand of people hoping to bring back food for their families. My father was at the back of the line when it all happened. I turned away for a second because I’ve felt like somebody else was in the rooftop at the same time and that’s when the building across collapsed on all of those people, including my father.
BOOOOOOOOM
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اهلل اكبر اهلل اكبر ! ! ! !
Oh my god…Oh my god…. Oh my god… What am I going to do? What just happened?
I have to go home… I have to go home!
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I was looking at the crime scene and I just could not believe it. My father was gone forever. We were just together an hour ago and now I will never see him again. I had to tell my family, they needed to know! I managed to get out of that building and tried to go home. I felt dizzy and destroyed. I did not know how to tell my mother and my siblings that our father just died in front of my eyes. I had to get my thoughts together and go talk to my mother.
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Mooom! Amin, where’s mom? I need to talk to her!
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I don’t know probably inside
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Ahmad I am right here! What’s happening, why are you screaming?
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Mama, I need to talk to you. Something horrible just happened.
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Mama… father…..father is dead. He was at the food line when the military killed everyone. Mama, father is not gonna come back, he just died. It’s only us now Mama
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Is Baba dead?
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Everybody was heart broken, even my 1 year old little brother. Baba was our pillar, he was the one taking care of us and now my mom feels all the pressure. The fact that we cannot burry our father’s body is making my mother really sad. She is heart broken.
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A few days later, tears were still running down my mother’s face. Our neighbor was taking a few people across the border to Jordan and offered us a place in his car. My mother decided to leave right away, she knew that nothing was left for us here in Syria. Our family was broken and it was with a broken hearted that she packed the little things that we all had and put them in the car.
Ahmad hurry up! Get your siblings and follow me the car is gonna leave without us!
We are coming mama! !
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Hurry up children!
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يآهلل
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The road was rough. We spent 4 days and half crossing the desert. We did not have enough food, we were very thirsty. Every morning, we woke up tiered and with the expectation that today could our last day. My mother was feeling weak, she cried a lot and tried to hide it from us but I could still see her. When we got to the camp, they gave a tente for the five of us, they were very welcoming. Now we live in Jordan with other Syrian refugees. We all pray for baba all the time.
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Mama can I go play?
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Yes but don’t go too far!
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THE END. !
Non-profit Organizations
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Syrian Sunrise Foundation
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History !
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“When peaceful demonstrations started, in March of 2011, to request freedom, the regime’s military forces have been treating the Syrians with utter brutality and violence. Now, over two years later, the country and its whole population are in total devastation. According to UN, 6.8 million need immediate assistance inside Syria. The number of refugees in neighboring countries is expected to increase from 1.6 to 3.5 million by end of 2013. As a result of the severity of the crisis, the UN has launched the largest ever appeal for aid in its history.! Whole cities and villages have been leveled to the ground; infrastructure has been demolished; families are displaced; and orphans and widows are now left alone and without the necessary supplies needed to survive.! Seeing this, Syrian Sunrise Foundation (SSF) was born in 2011 with a solid commitment to send aid to families, orphans, and widows affected by the conflict. We, at Syrian Sunrise Foundation (SSF), have been there on the ground since a few months into the conflict, and through our well-established humanitarian network of hundreds of workers -mostly volunteers- we have been delivering and continue to deliver various types of aid throughout Syria and bordering countries.! Syrian Sunrise Foundation seeks to establish its goal by concentrating its efforts on both short-term and long-term projects. Our short-term efforts consist of providing Emergency and livelihood necessities for Syrians- internally displaced and refugees. Long-term projects include provision for infrastructure projects and developmental programs to rebuild Syria in the areas of Healthcare, Education, and Human Development.”! Operates independent of any political, religious, or any other agenda, Syrian Sunrise Foundation is 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. All the donations are tax deductible; Tax ID is: 45-3956321.!
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https://syriansunrisefoundation.org!
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Islamic Relief USA !
! ! About The Emergency !
! “It’s been more than three years since conflict began in Syria in March 2011, isolating entire towns and neighborhoods, and exposing many Syrians to daily violence. In many communities, people have been forced to remain in their homes for safety. Many others have been pushed out of their neighborhoods to try to find refuge in adjacent areas. They cannot commute to work, school and other places of business, or get supplies or medical care. This makes life unbearable for people who already have little access to food, water, medical care and electricity. ! To protect their families, millions of Syrian refugees have fled to neighboring countries, such as Jordan and Lebanon. The latest reports indicate that the registered Syrian refugee population outside Syria is more than 2.6 million. In Jordan, areas such as Mafraq, Ramtha, Irbid, Zarqa, Maan, Al Karak and Amman are hosting large numbers of Syrian refugees, while in Lebanon, many Syrian refugees are being hosted in areas such as Akkar.! The crisis worsens every winter—and this most recent season was no exception: According to news articles, Winter Storm “Alexa” brought torrential rain and snow to the region, pushing temperatures in some area below freezing. Many have called “Alexa” the worst winter storm to hit the region in years: ” … snow, sharp winds and cold, heavy rains [have caused] misery for hundreds of thousands in camps and shanties” toward the end of 2013 and into 2014.! Unfortunately, the situation for both internal and external Syrian refugees is only expected to get worse.! HOW ISLAMIC RELIEF IS HELPING! Thousands of Syrians in need, both inside Syria and in neighboring Jordan and Lebanon, have been helped by Islamic Relief USA’s generous community. And, through the collaborative efforts of Islamic Relief offices around the world, more than 2 million Syrians affected by the conflict have received aid.”!
“In Syria, here are some of the way Islamic Relief donors are supporting those in need:! ! ! ACTIVE —Distribution of food parcels: rice, sugar, bulgur, canned beans, lentils, za’atar, olive oil, cans of tuna, tahini sauce with molasses, flour, sweets —Distribution of hygiene products: shampoo, soap, detergent, facial tissues, toothpaste —Winterization effort that provides blankets, mattresses and tarps to displaced families to protect against the cold.! SEASONAL —Ramadan food packages were distributed in 2013.! COMPLETED —Provided medical equipment for at least 42 health facilities —Provided shower and restroom facilities —With the help of UNRWA, a special project was also established to help Palestinian refugees inside Syria who have been affected by the ongoing conflict. They received food aid and hygiene and sanitary items. More than 22,000 people have been helped through this effort specifically.! ***While the situation inside and around Syria is volatile and could change, Islamic Relief is making every effort to accomplish its goal to of delivering aid items to those who need it most. If changing conditions in the region make this impossible, however, Islamic Relief USA will provide assistance to address a similar need, and will update you—our generous donors—on the situation as quickly as possible.”!
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Annotated Bibliography !
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Work Cited!
1. . "Jordan: Syrian refugees dream of home." International Committee Of The Red Cross. © International Committee of the Red Cross, 12-03-2014. Web. 8 Apr 2014. ! ! <http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/feature/2014/03-11-bustana-personalaccounts.htm#Muhammad>.! [ This source provides images, videos, and interviews with Syrian refugees in Jordan that will help me a lot to write a huge part of my story.]!
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2. Syrian refugees in Jordan: A journey full of fear. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC, Send pagePrint pageIncrease text sizeDecrease text size Syrian refugees in Jordan: A journey full of fear 08-12-2013. Film. 8 Apr 2014.! ! <http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/film/2013/av122b-jordan-syria-refugeesbustana.htm>. ! [This video or short film is extremely important because it will help me write the last part of my story. It is a sort of interview with a Syrian man that has been trying to find a safe place to stay in Syria for him, his wife and his six children but he ended up refuging in Jordan. He also talks about their 4 days travel in the desert, how they were hungry, thirsty, exhausted but still had to keep going. He said that the family woke up every morning with the idea that this could be their last day alive.] !
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3. theguardian.com, . "Scale of suffering at Syrian refugee camp is revealed by photo of huge queue for food." Guardian 26 02 2014, © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. n. pag. Web. 8 Apr. 2014. ! ! <http://www.theguardian.com/world/picture/2014/feb/26/yarmouk-refugee-campdamascus-syria>.! [I used a lot of pictures from this source]!
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4. Nwabali, Olivia . "Syria civil war 'kills over 150,000 people' in three years." Telegraph [United Kingdom] 01 04 2014, © Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2014 n. pag. Web. 8 Apr. 2014! . ! <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10737682/Syria-civil-warkills-over-150000-people-in-three-years.html>.!
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5. REUTERS, . "Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Syria death toll hits nearly 126,000." Jerusalem Post [Jerusalem] 12 02 2013, All rights reserved © The Jerusalem Post 1995 - 2012 n. pag. Web. 8 Apr. 2014. ! ! <http://www.jpost.com/Syria/Syrian-Observatory-for-Human-Rights-Syria-death-toll-hitsnearly-126000-333720>.!
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6. Smith-Spark, Laura. "Syria: Photos charging mass torture by regime 'fake'." CNN [New York City ] 23 01 2014, Š Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved. n. pag. Web. 8 Apr. 2014. ! ! <http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/22/world/meast/syria-torture-photos/>.!