Success Story

Reem Missi had a remarkable journey that deserves to be recognized. Motivated by Nelson Mandela’s words: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul…”.

She made her decision joyfully to leave behind the fields of engineering and big corporations. And enter the world of children, art, and colors. Reem Missi, the founder of the “Artokids” club, is a place where talent is nurtured with love. 

How does Reem Missi introduce herself to the “Uplifting Syrian Women” community? 

I am grateful for this exceptional opportunity to introduce myself through the “Uplifting Syrian Women” initiative. As a woman and a Syrian, I appreciate your kindness in giving me a space to share my story and my project with you. My name is Reem Yacoub Missi, and I have been living in Qatar with my family since 1982.

I have twin daughters who are nine years old. I studied civil engineering at Tishreen University in Latakia, Syria. Then, I worked in Qatar at Khatib and Alami Engineering Consulting Company. Later, I embarked on a journey in this vast and enjoyable world and specialized in project and risk management with private banks.

How did the idea of the “Artokids Club” start? Tell us about your project journey

Art has always been my passion.  I dreamed of incorporating it into my working life, no matter where I lived. Life has a way of surprising us with unexpected opportunities, and that’s what happened to me. I had to pause my work in engineering temporarily due to the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. I decided to use this time to do something useful and enjoyable, and some of my friends asked me to teach their children how to draw online.

I was determined and enthusiastic to make my idea a reality. With the help of my brother, George Missi, who is an amazing graphic designer. He has a podcast about all kinds of arts, we created the visual identity of the club. We chose the name, logo, and all the visual designs for the social media platform, as well as the physical materials such as prints and boxes for drawing tools, advertisements, posters, etc. 

I owe a lot to my parents and my family, who have supported me since childhood and continue to do so. They have always believed in our abilities and helped us develop our talents. They have also provided us with all the facilities to achieve our goals. This had a huge impact on our success and our passion for our work, whatever it is, in our respective fields. 

I also appreciate the support of my husband, daughters, and friends in “Artokids Club”. They trusted me from day one. For over a year and a half, they have been attending my drawing classes for their children and other activities. I am also grateful for the trust of all my students and everyone who has interacted with the services offered by Artokids.

Have you faced any criticism or discouragement in your career? How did they affect you and how did you handle them? 

No matter what you do or where you are, there will always be some criticism of your work. But not everyone who disagrees with you is a hater of your success. For example, in my experience, I didn’t face much criticism. But rather some warnings to be prepared for the challenges and not to get sucked into them. I consider myself lucky and blessed by God to have this much love and attention.

Tell us about the role of your father, the architect and visual artist Yacoub Missi in your career

My father instilled in us a love of art. He never guided our hands to draw or sculpt. But he let us watch him create his artwork with colors or clay. He always asked for our opinion on his artistic projects. Not only to take it into consideration, but also to create a meaningful dialogue that enriched our thinking, knowledge, and self-confidence. 

Every member of my family paints, including my mother, brother, and sister. The dining table was not only a place to gather for meals, but also our own drawing studio, and still to this day. In short, we learned art as a way of life. 

During my university years, I joined the Center for Fine Arts in Latakia where my father learned art before going to Turkey to get his degree in architecture. He shared with me many of his stories about the beginnings of his career in sculpture. That’s what made me aware of the fundamentals of art and how to practice it. My father is now an actual partner in “Artokids”. He assists me with all the preparations before the workshops as well as the art products that we offer.

Tell us about Reem Missi, the wife, the mother, and the manager. What are the obstacles and challenges that you faced? And how did you overcome them? 

The challenges are still big… and every time I make progress, new challenges emerge. 

One of these challenges is time management, as the drawing classes in “Artokids” start in the evening. And as a mother, I am very attentive to my daughters’ studies. So this clash of schedules is a major challenge that puts me in a dilemma of “to be or not to be”. Should I keep up with the double effort of balancing my time or stop? Thank God, I was able to combine my motherhood and work in the best way possible for a year and a half. 

The other challenge is expanding, which I still struggle with, but I believe that everything has its right time.

What is the most important thing that “Artokids Club” offers? Besides developing talents and skills. Tell us about the interactive sessions for mothers and their children. what do you think of their impact on them? 

Artokids is a small project that is still growing and offering many services. The first one is teaching drawing to children and adults. A box of various drawing tools is provided at the start of registration. Also, we conduct art workshops for ladies, children, mothers, and children. 

We participate in many events and activities in Qatar through Artokids, such as schools and celebrations. Also, we do drawing activities and also sell artistic products made by the whole family, including my daughters. 

Everything you share with your child for the purpose of artistic, scientific, or cultural enrichment is a treasure in the depths of your soul, mind, and wisdom. When talent is polished with love… it will give back a lot.

What are Reem Missi’s dreams and goals for the future? 

To tell you the truth, as much as I love drawing, I also love writing. I have many thoughts that I hope to publish someday. My goal is to move towards achieving my biggest dream, which is to create a cultural club. There, I can bring the warmth and richness of my parents’ dining table, where we share the art and stories, to a wider audience. I want it to be a fun and safe space for women and families, where they can join and develop their culture and hobbies, such as writing, reading, drawing, sculpting, and much more. 

I know that planning is the key to success, but I also believe in that power that slowly seeps into your soul and whispers to you that it’s time for a bigger leap. I will keep planning and living passionately and consciously every day and wait for that whisper.

What are the tips that you would like to share with women who have ambitions and are still looking for their path? 

Believe in yourselves, and learn from everything, big or small. Do not lose hope no matter how much time has passed, for time is just a number, but age is what we do and achieve. Look for successful models in your environment and learn from them. I have seen many models and many women who inspired me in my life, and my closest model is my mother who persisted in getting her university degree when I was a little girl, so she left me with my father in Qatar to go to Damascus to take her exams until she graduated.

I remember my sister, a mother of three studying at school and university, who attended the University of Fine Arts in Lebanon and received the distinction and the university president’s award.

What is the quote that Reem Missi thinks summarizes the journey and enlightens the path?

I am thankful to God, to the family that he gave me, to the comrades, to the honorable models in my life, to the bad luck, to the resurrection that followed the fall, to the coming failure and the rise that will follow it. To the constant search for a life worth living, and to the experiences that helped me a lot to build new skills. 

The quote that I always remember in my moments of fatigue is by Nelson Mandela: “It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”

Also read:

• Manar Abboud
• Reem Shetayh
• Najah Khamasmie

Being alive merely because days are passing by doesn’t sound too complicated. However, the true challenge lies in living life to its fullest, starting each day with a determination to take note of your surroundings, pursuing your hopes and aspirations, and embracing the passion that leads to success and achievements.

Today’s inspiring story is of Mrs. Manar Abboud, a woman who lives a life deserving of admiration, constantly striving towards her goals. She believes that within her lies a vast world unfolding with each passing day.

Humanitarian and academic experiences culminated in Manar Abboud’s establishment of the “Di3tna” initiative

Manar Abboud describes herself as a lifelong learner, constantly engaging with knowledge and opportunities. Since childhood, existential questions about humanity, the universe, life, God, and the purpose of existence on Earth have driven her curiosity.

Manar has always dreamt of providing a platform where everyone could express their truths openly and freely. She believed in lending support to individuals, enabling them to meet their own needs, become agents of change, and lead their personal development journeys.

Recognizing that the majority of people remain unaware of their strengths, and often ignore the areas in need of growth and improvement within themselves, Manar Abboud dedicated herself to volunteering and humanitarian work. She actively participated in educational workshops and events, enriching her life experiences. Eventually, she decided to consolidate said experiences and establish the “Di3tna” initiative after participating in a global youth program, making good use of years worth of knowledge and skills.

The launch of the “Di3tna” initiative and its general direction

About the launch of the Di3tna Initiative, Manar says: “The initiative was officially launched in 2016 as a group of friends coming together, each contributing with valuable experiences they possessed. Over time, more people who believed in our mission joined the initiative, bringing their passion, dedication, and human compassion.”

Describing the general vision of “Di3tna” initiative, she adds: “The overarching vision of our endeavor revolves around actively contributing to creating a compassionate society, where personal conviction and self-belief serve as catalysts for change, through utilizing one’s abilities to gain self-awareness, understand the surrounding environment, and master the tools necessary for accomplishing the seemingly impossible.”

The initiative’s methodology is based on cognitive, economic, and social empowerment, using specialized programs, events, and clubs designed to facilitate various forms of empowerment.

Supporters of the success of “Manar Abboud” and “Di3tna” initiative

Manar Abboud recognizes her family as her primary support system. Their unwavering support continues to this day.  Her family stands by her side in every decision or action affecting her humanitarian work. She also cherishes the support of numerous friends who believe in her mission.

Additionally, Manar’s life partner, whom she met in 2018, plays a significant role in her journey. Sharing the same passion and concern for humanity, he doubled her motivation. Through his scientific and humanitarian experiences, he continues to support Manar in her work.

Characteristics and objectives of the “Di3tna” initiative’s team.

What sets the “Di3tna” initiative apart, according to Manar, is the sense of belonging it fosters as “one family”. The initiative welcomes anyone who seeks to learn. It is worth mentioning that “Di3tna” is the first countryside-originated initiative that is still actively running. “Di3tna Cultural Forum” has been licensed as the official entity and umbrella organization for its work.

The initiative targets all age and societal groups. The name of the village from which the initiative was launched was not chosen, believing that “humanity is one village”.

Regarding the initiative’s goals, Manar emphasizes their nature as “interim milestones as part of a grander vision, with an emphasis on continuous progress and refusal to settle for limitations. The initiative aims to have a broad impact, bringing smiles to the distressed and offering ease to those in pain.”

“Be truthful  in everything, so that the truth of everything will be revealed to you.” This was Manar Abboud’s advice to every ambitious person who seeks to develop himself, believes in his abilities, and trusts that change for the better inevitably begins from within.

Also read:

• Reem Shetayh
• Sally Ghannoum
• Rouaa Hamze

The daughter of the mind and the creative pen. 
Get to know the writer Reem Shetayh.”Writing is nothing but an overflow of knowledge and education that the writer has reached” These were the words that Reem Shetayh used to introduce herself as a writer. Out of these words, we will tell you her success story, shedding light on her experience, and some of her life aspects. She is a talented writer who talked about thoughts, politics, and psychology. Reem Shetayh is a Syrian woman who has acquired the Syrian culture along with the American culture since she has lived there for 25 years. 

“I have grown up in a calm environment in my beautiful village-Emar Alhosn- surrounded by a cultural and artistic background. I was raised around music, culture, and happiness. My father-Khalil Shetayh- who is an artist, singer, and oud player, was also a great reader and a fan of poetry, writing, and literature.” Shetayh says.

Reem Shetayh and writing

“I was connected to writing in a special bond because it is my skill and one of my tools to discuss many questions and thoughts as it is my safe place to express myself.” Reem Shetayh about her bond with writing. Later, she improved her writing to include deep and varied articles that have been circulating in many newspapers and websites. “These writings have left an effect on the readers through the past ten years, from them I describe myself as a writer.”

Reem Shetayh’s scientific ambition has been a great part of her career since she has employed her own talent and her mental abilities to make a complete print in the new generation minds of university students in the USA. She has worked as a university professor in psychology at three universities in the USA, right now she is a professor at:

• The Ohio State University.
• Otterbein University.
• Columbus State Community College.

The story of her success and achieving the dream 

A previous article of hers was published in 2016, she talked in it about self-awareness, and abilities and emphasized the way and the vision. She said: “While you rate your own motivations for success and achieving your goals, you will find out that you have been the first motivation to your success the moment you realized the abilities you have and believed in yourself, you were honest in setting your goals and level. After that, there are others believing in you and probably not before it”. She adds Rumi says: “When you decide to begin the journey, the road will appear.”

This decision does not come true without believing, self-confidence, and the knowledge of self abilities, knowing yourself and your abilities so you can apply them in appropriate ways to your mental, cultural, and creative levels in order to achieve your goals. Be sure that excellence is not a goal itself, but is rather a result of what you have. The thing that will appear clearly along with the results and the personal, practical, and professional success, in addition to your effect on others. The only barrier between us and our goals is our hard work to achieve our goals by any means necessary.

Goals do not come true only by dreaming, patience, or waiting, but also by hard work and insistence. Despair and failure take control of the person only when he gives up and does nothing, failure is only when you tell yourself: “I can not” but you should better try, and the honor of trying is enough.

Writing and the main reason to enter this world 

Reem Shetayh says:” In the beginning, writing was a gift and a tool to express me, then it became a project, a mental and cultural project for getting experiences and knowledge, giving a point of view, a quote or an enlightening subject to serve the society. My mental, and cultural interest, trying to pop up human cases, discussing them, and finding solutions for them has been a motivation to get into this wide world. In addition to my big obsession with the knowledge that is the root of every free mind.

The intent to perform this way of thinking in society, investing, and spreading it is not only a decision. Most of the time, the writer gets to a level of knowledge that automatically makes him a partner in all that’s happening in the world. According to this, one can not keep himself away from this knowledge or from this society, he rather should be a real and effective partner in the society rising. In order for him to be like that, what the writer gives must be a result of mental, societal, and human conflict, and free thinking.

The most important goal must be giving benefit to the society with results that raises the mental and moral level, it also must warn people of many imperfections and give solutions that fix and build instead of destroying.”

The difference between literary writing and writing in thoughts and politics 

Writing is nothing but a surplus of knowledge, learning, and education that the writer has accumulated. This knowledge is an accumulative process and the result of an open mind. The horizons of odds, questions, and answers have no limit in the human mind. Talent comes from using language and wording so it moves this way of thinking from private to public by transforming it into a sentimental written subject.

Reem says in her published article in 2017:” It means that the gift of writing is a tool to transfer intellect, and this is the relationship between intellect and literature. While literature serves the intellect, the main root is in the discussed intellect in all different social or political subjects, they are all scientific things that are transferred by writing. Writing with all the intellect it carries is a way of knowledge and the free word of societies and human development. The writer through the ages has always worked hard to introduce a reality aiming to it as a goal and to lead this reality to the reader as a human case, wisdom, dialectic, or an educational subject.  The writer appears in the text just as much as he is in the discussed reality. Text is nothing but a soul sign print of the writer of his human presence. “

Reem Shetayh is a Syrian writer and lecturer who presents her country at Arab and Global conferences

The Syrian lecturer and writer:” This means to me a social identity, history and belonging not only a nationality because I carry the genes of this country, its culture and what it gave me a production I could invest to be a person that presents the Syrian woman in the Arab woman conferences. I have lectured at conferences in Syria and I lecture every year in different educational centers in many cities during the summer, they are about varied subjects like psychology, culture, and intellect. “

Difficulties and stumbles I have faced and how I have passed them

I faced some difficulties related to finding time to do many responsibilities along with studying, writing, and work. When I returned to the university in the USA and specialized, my kids were young and I had to create time not wait for it that is why I had to invest time in any place or activity that I do whether for me or my kids, so I used to invest time in studying, keeping up and work later.”

She continues: “My family; my husband, my kids, my parents, and my brothers, they all were very supportive of me and this was so positive. I think that the most thing that helps one to pass difficulties is that he knows what he wants, he goes for it with a strong will and believes in himself and his abilities to make his ambition come true, especially for women, if she has appreciation then she finds many solutions.”

Achieving success in appropriate circumstances 

Conditions show what abilities a person has but do not create them. If a person has abilities he realizes and he has ambition, then the right conditions appear and help him to achieve what he wants. Mainly we make our present and future with what we admire, work, and want.  Except for war conditions and changes that make it difficult. As the right conditions may come to a person who does not have ambition or abilities. But conditions won’t do a thing in this case. 

There is an American saying: “You can take a horse to the river but you can not make him drink.” If he does not want to, he may stop and not try although having the right conditions if it is right to say. The bottom line is that the conditions are important in the case of ambition, desire, and will availability so the success is worth it. 

Reem Shetayh’s future goals and expectations

To be a part of people’s awareness about psychology, psychological disorders, cure importance, and knowledge. I seek to make cultural and scientific changes in my country by entering the educational process because it helps to spread secularism, accept others and work on legal changes in this context. “

In conclusion, the writer Reem Shetayh, in an article exhibition of hers under the title “Value and Quality”, says:  “There should be an approach of social value with the intellectual value of a human and his moral level. Otherwise, we will end up with a community that values the ascending and corrupted people, it marginalizes the elite and the real creative people. Thus, there is a need for such an approach in our society in order to value people -men and women- according to intellect and morals. When this begins, the intellect leaders regardless of their varied majors become pioneers in making positive changes that definitely will lead to a better future.

Also read:

• Najah Khamasmie
• Razan Ismail
• Naderah Rabie

Who is Najah Khamasmie, and how would you like to introduce yourself to the Uplifting Syrian Women community?

Najah Khamasmie is a Syrian-German woman, a writer, and a motivator. After I arrived in Europe in 2012 with my husband and children over time, I have understood the difference between being a female and a society lady and being the master of my decisions and life in the world of numbers and choices. I love very much the combination of the warmth and passion of the East and the discipline and organization of the West. In my new identity, I find balance, confidence, and a renewed ability for consistent planning.

How did you take your first steps in the field of social media, motivational videos, and later on, podcasting with your daughter?

Around ten years ago, I started writing articles on social media, which I later compiled into two books, one of which was published in three languages. However, writing alone wasn’t enough during the time of COVID-19, as people in their isolation needed a voice and visual representation. Facial expressions and tone of voice can communicate ideas with more robust and more influential impressions. Encouraged by my family, especially my daughter, I began creating motivational videos.

The beginning wasn’t easy for someone used to writing silently, but in this change, I found a different presence and a new message. During my meetings and lectures with families in Europe, I noticed that dialogue between generations was often absent for various reasons. Therefore, my daughter wanted us to share our experience of intergenerational dialogue through a podcast, and although we’re still at the beginning, it has been a wonderful experience. I also consider it as documenting a different intellectual period with my daughter.

How important is it to be a successful and supportive mother, and how does that impact your family, especially your daughter?

Who is a successful mother, and by what standards? Is it measured by achievements outside the home or within it? Is it evaluated based on income level or social status? Many questions!

But for me, a successful mother is one who finds reassurance and joy and manages to transmit them to her family. She can only reach that state by realizing her own potential. Only then can she support each family member to achieve their own self-fulfillment and happiness. She wouldn’t wait for any of them to accomplish what she couldn’t accomplish. She will also rejoice in their individuality and encourage them to be who they want to be. 

As for my daughter, I always send her a consistent message: “Let your presence be strong and irreplaceable.” I don’t want her to expend her energies solely in the pursuit of equality but rather to discover her own strengths to prove her presence and make it effective and entrenched.

What about your journey to surviving cancer? What is its role in mapping your life and how do you live with it?

My experience with cancer resembles, to some extent, my experience of forced alienation, as if one suddenly feels they have lost everything in an instant! The difference between the two experiences is that during the migration experience, I hoped, in the early years, that time would pass quickly, following the principle of “time will pass”. But with cancer, I held on to life tenaciously. I no longer wanted time to “pass quickly” or in that way. Waking up in the morning became a reason to celebrate, as it meant I had survived and could live for an extra day.

In my current experience, I appreciate not giving up and have realized that God’s strength shines during our vulnerability. At one point during the treatment journey, I lost the ability to speak and walk, and the pain was intense. I didn’t try to appear strong; I simply focused on continuing and made God my source of strength.

My family members learned to be strong during my time of vulnerability. While we believe that our children learn and take strength from our strength, in fact, they learn strength and wisdom in our time of vulnerability, and I was experiencing the joy of seeing them mature lovingly. I also used to live a very healthy life out of fear of disease, but today I realized that fear is the disease itself! Human beings, by the grace of God, are able to accomplish things they cannot believe or imagine being able to. 

I still live a healthy life without any “fear”, but with a sense of responsibility towards the blessing of health. Time has become sacred to me, there is no time for grief, negativity, and attention to gossip. It is a time of joy and the realization of what we must achieve.

What difficulties did you face? And how did you overcome them?

First, I began to call things by their right names. In my opinion, there are “difficulties” and there are “obstacles.” Difficulties are those you face within yourself, such as laziness, hesitation, procrastination, forgetfulness, boredom, negative thoughts, stereotypes, and fear. You must confront and deal with these things seriously, decisively, and powerfully every day and every hour of your life. Work needs constant diligence.

Obstacles are negative words and destructive criticism from others, undervaluing your work no matter how good it is, simply because you’re a woman, lack of interaction, and so on. One should not engage with obstacles or confront them but rather ignore them and surpass them wisely, as surrendering to them will take a long time to get out of.

Therefore, I deal with difficulties with patience, strength, and positivity while ignoring obstacles to preserve my energy.

What advice do you have for those who are still searching for their way?

Learn from others and profit from their experiences, but do not compare yourself to them. There is no specific time, no age, and no circumstances to start; start with the small possibilities available at that moment, start.

Search within your strengths, and you will find your path. Do not underestimate what you possess, but be aware that everything given to you by God has a purpose and intention.

When you feel joy and reassurance, it means you are on the right path. Surrender is rejected, whether it is surrendering to the success of something and stopping there or surrendering to failure and not attempting again. We may fail in a certain task, but that does not mean we are failures, as God did not give us the spirit of failure.

What is the difference between a successful person and an ordinary person?

There is no ordinary person; there is only a person who has not yet discovered their uniqueness. It’s good to love ourselves, but it’s optimal to love what is best for us. We need to ask ourselves, what do I want for myself to be better? How can I achieve that? And why do I want those things?

These questions redirect me whenever I deviate from my purpose and vision for myself. The person who has discovered their uniqueness no longer seeks appreciation and admiration from others; instead, they seek inner peace and satisfaction. We are all influenced by psychological and life factors that may change our opinions accordingly. Therefore, it is incorrect to measure my success based on the opinions of others. Instead, I should measure it based on the results of my actions. 

Everything starts from within, as a person is driven by his thoughts. Let’s make our thoughts positive, motivational, and curious, seeking alternative solutions and innovative, effective approaches.  Then we will assert our presence with gentleness and strength. The question remains, why do I want what I want? And here lies the uniqueness.

What are your dreams and upcoming goals?

Before I talk about the future, I need to look at the past. In the past, all the professions I worked in were characterized by possessing the spirit of joy and beauty. I worked as a web designer and later in an agency importing wedding dresses and haute couture. All of these endeavors involved joy and beauty.

Today, I work in social media and writing, and I hope to achieve more joy and spread more beauty. We need a lot of real beauty in all aspects of life. I hope my first novel succeeds, as it is my first work of fiction after writing and publishing motivational articles. The future has always held many surprises for me, which may initially appear as endings but are actually beautiful and powerful beginnings, thanks to God’s blessings. So, I feel that the future is waiting for me and surprising me, and I surprise it in return. I don’t have long-term plans. After displacement, illness, and significant material and spiritual losses, I have prioritized living with joy and hope.

My main goal is to continue with joy and hope. Like a small spring coming from the mountains, it may change its course due to a large rock or a cliff, but it continues, leaving a beautiful refreshing trail wherever it passes.

Also read:

• Christina Al-Maari
• Carol Zakhour
• Taghreed Qutrib

Since we believe that every pursuer is ultimately a winner, and everyone is capable of reaching their goals, we will allocate a monthly corner to talk about the success stories of women from the modern and contemporary history of Syria.

Our story today is about the Champion of Syria and the Arab world several times (singles, doubles, and mixed doubles) in the table tennis game “Ping-Pong”.
A’zza Hani Al-Abdullah was born in Hama and lived in Damascus, she then moved to Homs after her marriage. Despite this big change in her life at the time, she loved the city and felt like she belonged.

Her first passion was sports, and her interest went beyond ping-pong; as she was always present in the basketball and football matches at a time when there would be no other girls in the audience, but that didn’t stop her from pursuing her passion.
She started training in middle school and gradually evolved from an amateur athlete to a professional and a champion.

Our heroine refers to the period of her playing sports as the most beautiful time of her life, in spite of all the difficulties and hardships she lived through. This period was rich in training, travel, and camps inside and outside of Syria. She says:
“The first condition to surpass in sport is passion, and the second is the commitment to training, whether individually or with the team”.

Although she quit playing and didn’t become a coach as it isn’t necessary for every player to become one, she remains a passionate fan of her game (table tennis) following up with the matches and updates.

Despite her impressive success in sports, she didn’t neglect any other aspect of her life; she graduated from the Institute of Engineering, worked in the Housing Association, and then she devoted herself to caring for her children.

As for her other interests, she is a fan and regular visitor to the cultural center of Homs, and lately, she’s been busy working with the “Nour Emesa” women’s network, supervised by the UNDP, as part of a group of networks in all Syrian Governorates.
In addition to being a member of the board of directors of the “Fraternity Club” with five other men, who are working hard to revive the damaged club after years of war, they plan to include a study zone and a kitchen within the new premises.

Our heroine says: “Success is to love what you do, be passionate about it, and have faith in it and its mission, together with serious commitment, this combination is the way for every person to achieve success”.

In conclusion, she addressed the Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative, saying: “I encourage and support every initiative that seeks to empower women and grant them their rights, through which we will achieve equitability and social cohesion, and I’m very pleased to see young women volunteering for this goal”.

“Have faith in God, then have faith in yourself. Put no boundaries on your aspirations, and keep your heart and mind focused on your passions and you will get there, God willing.”

Our hero for April is Christina Al-Maari from the city of Sednaya in Syria. She is a mother of two, a life skills coach for teenagers, a certified family and educational consultant, and has a diploma in neurolinguistic programming.

Christina says: “Since I was a little girl, I was fascinated by books that talked about human development. My university studies in translation at the Faculty of Arts were far from anything that resembled me. However, despite that, I succeeded and worked in the banking sector, where I gained experience in the field of development and met different types of minds and personalities. Each personality taught me more and led me to analyses that confirmed my belief in the unity of the soul, mind, and body. 

The biggest turning point in my life was motherhood. At that time, I did not know that my motherhood of Alfred and Jad would lead me to the place where I would find myself, the place where this talent would turn into science, studies, and training. My motherhood was a turning point in my life towards every child in this world, and my inner child was the first of them. 

Here began the journey of consciousness, healing, and self-discovery to reach my true self. I started to let go and free myself from the traumas of the past, which were concentrated greatly in the adolescent stage. After I healed, my focus shifted to how to help every teenager go through this journey of life peacefully, flexibly, and with the least amount of challenges.

At the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, and during the complete lockdown, I started searching for a new future for myself. It was then that I met my esteemed teacher, Aya Khanji. After talking with her, I realized that what I was searching for was available at the International Academy for Training Trainers in London. However, I needed a lot of time, effort, and training to become a certified life skills trainer from the Academy. I thought a lot about it, and my husband was my biggest supporter because he knew how much I loved helping others.

I started my new journey, and the road was not easy. I had to shoulder significant responsibilities, starting with taking care of my children, who are my top priority in life, and my household duties. The biggest challenge was leaving my comfort zone, but every time I felt the desire to retreat, I reminded myself of the motivation behind my studies and the goal I wanted to achieve. I completed the journey, and I also decided to study the accredited educational family counseling specialization because I felt the importance of working with parents to help them build healthy relationships with their children, which is part of my mission.

After two years of training, studying, and hard work, I officially became a certified life skills coach for children and teenagers, accredited by the International Academy for Training in London. I obtained a diploma in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and became a certified family and educational consultant accredited by the North Texas Leadership Development Academy and Wideview Institute and the Knowledge Authority in the Dubai government. Then I founded the Future Makers Academy, believing that children and teenagers are the future makers, and they are the seeds that, if planted in fertile soil, give the best crops.

Today, I cannot describe my happiness every time I help any young person in their teenage years to find themselves and discover their inner treasures. My greatest happiness is when I offer assistance to a family or caregiver who needs it to rebuild their parental relationship with their children and often with themselves. I believe that solving everything starts from within, and change begins from our depths.

My next goal is to develop and increase my knowledge of the developing world because knowledge is power. In addition, I aim to reach every teenager in need of someone to understand and listen to them and be able to offer help without any judgments.

I dream of reaching every Arab household that needs help rebuilding relationships between its members to be happy and mentally healthy. My message today to anyone reading this article: “continue and move forward in life because passion does not end at a certain age or circumstance. Harness your circumstances to serve your dreams and always aim to be the best version of yourself. Do not compare yourself to anyone because each of us is a unique creature created by God. Look inside yourself to find your inner treasures and from there, move forward and achieve goals that suit your life.”

The Uplifting Syrian Women initiative celebrates the success of Christina Al-Maari and wishes her more strength and ability to give. It hopes this story will be a lesson in willpower, determination, and continuous striving towards the goal.

“With these words, Carol Georges Zakhour, founder of Uplifting Syrian Women, explains how she views change: ‘We have to change the way we see the world before we try to change it itself.’ The initiative turned her life around and that of 100 other volunteers who work for it. But it wasn’t an ordinary shift. It was like the butterfly effect, landing softly, scattering its glow into the welcoming air.

A passion for making dreams come true and inflicting change

A dream had lit up the passion inside Carol to establish the initiative, as she had always believed that her core needed to bring change to this world. She never got used to pointing out problems while waiting for others to find solutions. Instead, it was a must for her to work hard and move forward without waiting on anyone or anything.

Carol chose women as her targeted group in this initiative, based on the idea that only women understand the suffering of other women. The question here is, why do women makeup four times the percentage of men in the workplace but not in leading positions? And the more dangerous question is, why is there a gap between the two sexes in educational attainment and needed efficiency for the workplace? Due to many more questions, Carol decided to march one step alongside women through Uplifting Syrian Women.

An exciting journey between the milestones of the past and the future

“It was only my journey, but today, it’s the journey of more than 100 creative volunteers besides me.” With these feelings and a sense of group spirit, Carol describes the journey of the volunteers and workers of this initiative. She also adds, “Since the founding of the initiative, my journey was permeated with a lot of hard work, loss, and sometimes a distraction. But these particular moments are a source of pride because I came out of them stronger than I was before.” And she continues, “During these two years, I became more patient, stronger, and more confident in myself. And most of all, my path to the future became brighter and clearer.”

2 years of the initiative… so much hard work and lots of love

After two years of launching the initiative, it wasn’t easy for Carol to get to where she is today. It was days full of exhaustion, busy with ideas, some of which were unattainable at some point, but insisting on reaching your goals makes miracles. She comments on that, saying: “I can’t tell the whole story in a couple of lines; I’d be afraid to do my team wrong. But to set things straight, we had sleepless nights, and every one of us offered, despite our limited resources, all we had with lots of love.

“Uplifting Syrian Women”… a success story of the individual and the group

Carol Georges Zakhour wrote her success story and is still writing new lines of an exciting trip between the extended past and present. She answers the question about the ability to achieve success in the light of surrounding circumstances with: “Current circumstances are the biggest motive for conquering success. People who are living a comfortable, stable life, who don’t feel the need for anything, will never try to change anything. Since we are living in uneasy circumstances, it’s actually a constant reminder to keep trying over and over, Providing better living conditions”

At first, Carol’s idea about the initiative was to help women online get practical experiences. These experiences qualify them to enter the workplace the right way while fulfilling its requirements. But it doesn’t stop at that point for Carol. It was necessary to rehabilitate women and help those who wished to obtain a scholarship, for example, or to gain voluntary experience.

In addition to that, psychological support was a must, since everyone is suffering from what’s happening, especially women. Our family at the initiative is growing bigger and bigger; day by day, we have more volunteers, followers, and beneficiaries. Sometimes, Carol finds it hard to believe that it’s been two years since the launch. Between an honest, shy warm start and a persisting consistency, the initiative’s teams were – with so many of them – like a beehive writing a special success story.

“I’m grateful for whatever made me who I am today.”

It’s not easy for any human being to cross the narrow door of this life, or choose the hard way filled with thorns. But certainly, that way and that door, being so narrow and hard, will make a tougher, stronger, more resilient person capable of facing challenges. At this point in the conversation, she sees herself as grateful for everything that made her who she is today. She waits for upcoming hardships with a smile and great determination, eager to learn from them. All of the hardships and challenges she experienced were the result of her choosing the difficult path, and if she were allowed to change anything about her life, she would not change anything.

Personal wishes attached to Uplifting Syrian Women

“Carol” cannot separate her personal wishes from her wishes for the initiative, as she considers the initiative “the source of her happiness.” Her goal for the initiative is to sustain its impact, expand its provision of services, and be a part, no matter how small, of improving the conditions of Syrian women. Even Carol’s personal individual wishes center around that sweet relic. She hopes that it will be a beautiful memory in the lives of all those whose paths crossed with it and a source of hope to pursue their dreams.

“Let’s work together so we can survive”: On the anniversary of the “Uplifting Syrian Women” initiative, Carol Georges Zakhour feels proud. This feeling comes from the noticeable change she sees in the lives of each member of the initiative – internal progress and development in terms of practical experience, self-confidence, and psychological comfort.

In addition, Carol is happy to see the initiative’s members producing, influencing their community, and feeling fulfilled. She offers her gratitude to everyone who believes in the goals of the initiative and is working for it, for all those who have allowed this little community of hers to be their “safe haven.” This, in return, allowed her to be a witness to the positive developments in the lives of the initiative’s members.

“Let’s work together so we can survive” was the sentence with which Carol concluded her message to all members of the “Uplifting Syrian Women” initiative, their volunteers, and their audience. This is always her mantra, as the existence of the initiative is only for the sake of its audience, which gives it continuity. It is indispensable to support all for all and to cooperate hand in hand to achieve the desired goals and bring about change.

“Passion is the measurement of success.” Taghreed Qutrib and the Passion for Writing.

In a time where blogging on social media platforms has become a shortcut and a wide space for both the good and bad. Writer and engineer Taghreed Qutrib tells us about her extensive experience as a creative woman. Each of her books cost her a lot of time, experience, and maturity.

Who is Taghreed Qutrib? How do you introduce yourself to the Uplifting Syrian Women community?

Taghreed Qutrib is a civil engineer and an activist in the cultural field. I love literature and I write about my passions, dreams, and wishes.

How did you take your first steps in writing? Tell us about your first book.

My first book, Alive in Love, a collection of stories published in 2014, was the result of years of working. In it, I chose stories that I’ve written at different times over about twenty years.

What are the difficulties that you’ve encountered and how did you overcome them?

One who has a passion for writing does not see difficulties in the world of literature. However, there are periods that I call (periods of intellectual hibernation) when I feel that I am repeating myself in my writing, which makes me abandon writing for a while. In it, I resort to reading more to enrich my language and thought, and after that, I return to writing in a literary and intellectual manner, which I can say is richer and more mature than before.

What is your advice for anyone searching for themselves and their tools in literature?

In the beginning, there is no advice other than reading, and for the amateur to know the appropriate type of literature for his intellectual capacities. For example, many try to write poetry but are very far from writing in this difficult art form. That depends primarily on rhythm and measure, so they (arrange) or line up some phrases and then append them with two letters that are repeated in each phrase, then claim that it’s poetry and call those letters a rhyme. 

In my opinion, those are intruders who distort the literary scene, and they can write thoughts, which is the right start, free from the laws of poetry.

From your point of view, what is the difference between a successful person and an ordinary one?

A successful person has passion and loves what he does. Love is the basis of any work, it is its spirit and continuity. Love what you do until you do what you love.

What are your next dreams and goals?

In the circumstances my country’s going through, the space for dreams has diminished and is now confined to one, shared by all Syrians, that is to overcome this crisis we are all going through. So, I can say that my first dream is to get over writing about worries and oppression. Perhaps at this age, we have to go beyond the phase of dreams, as dreams tend to make us lazy. Perhaps, we have to make dreams into short-term goals and strive to achieve them without any delay. Currently, I aspire to have my own line of writing and to publish my fourth book in the Arab region.

From the Uplifting Syrian Women initiative

We would like to thank Taghreed for enriching us with her story, and we are proud of her successful and inspiring career rich in literary achievements Alive in Love, Ishtar’s Confessions, Burgul Naam, and we hope that her fourth book sees the light soon. We recommend that everyone should take a look at those wonderful stories which touch our hearts. And we agree with Taghreed, as working with passion and love gives fantastic results that everyone feels and praises, no matter the field.

Also read:

• Yali Bagh.
• Sally Ghannoum.

There’s no Elevator To The Top, you’ve Got to Take The Stairs. Nothing is “impossible” in life, everything is possible with a will, determination, and the right steps.

Yali Bagh is a Syrian girl who believed in herself, overcame difficulties, and strived until she reached her goal. Although the path was not easy, she was patient and worked hard.

Who is Yali Bagh?  How do you like to introduce yourself to the Uplifting Syrian Women community?

Yali Bagh is a Syrian girl, who graduated from the Faculty of Media, Department of Public Relations and Advertising with Distinction, and director of social media platforms at Remedial Jobs.

How did you take your first steps?

After graduating from university,I got some training opportunities in the most important media institutions in the UAE through the initiative to support distinguished Arab youth in the field of media, and that’s how my professional journey with Remedial Jobs began.

I started working with Remedial as a volunteer in the social media department, and I had no previous practical experiences, so the first period was a little difficult. But step by step I became the director of social media platforms in the company, where I am responsible for supervising all platforms, carrying out various marketing campaigns, and preparing studies and monthly reports. 

Here, I must thank the Remedial team for their continuous support, encouragement, and for their belief in me and my abilities, especially the founders of Remedel, Mr. Ali Nizar Ali and Mr. Muhammad Khalil Ismail.

What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

Life is full of difficulties, and everyone is exposed to bumps and difficult days. Some may think that working in the field of managing social media platforms is easy and that anyone can do it, but it is in fact a wide field that requires high skills and capabilities in creativity, language, good communication with customers, patience, and constant presence throughout the day even in the late hours of the night.

I struggled at the beginning of my career with balancing between work, study, personal life, friends, and family, but with a little time management, I got over it. In addition, I often suffer from a loss of passion and unwillingness to do anything. Still, I always remind myself of my current goals and what I strive for in the future, and that’s enough to restore my passion and keep moving forward. From my point of view, an ambitious and successful person cannot allow challenges to stop him in his tracks, and he always finds a way to get past them, making him “successful” in the first place. 

What is your advice for anyone who’s still looking for his way?

To never give up, and to work hard to find their passion in life, and it is not wrong for a person to fail or try several things before deciding what he wants to do with his life, but the most important thing is never to give up before finding what he wants.

What is the difference between a successful and an ordinary person?

In my opinion, a successful person is the one who looks at things positively, and this is something I personally believe in, and I even notice it in all successful people, as they are always positive and optimistic even when they make a mistake or fail, they do not allow that failure to affect them or their path. Rather, they rise and start again while benefiting from their previous experiences, which they consider a source of inspiration.

What are your dreams and upcoming goals?

Dreams are never ending, and I always aspire to the best and to advance both scientifically and practically. I strongly believe in the vision of the non-profit Remedial Foundation to achieve great success, and both me and the entire team aspire to achieve Remedel’s goal on a larger scale and to reach larger groups of Arab youth, to achieve our main goal of helping young people find job opportunities in these difficult circumstances.

About Remedial Jobs

Remedial Jobs is an advertising agency based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, officially licensed by the Economic Development in the Emirate of Dubai.  Remedial is interested in publishing job opportunities ads in the UAE and Syria, and to be with the applicants during the application to address any obstacle or problem in the application process, with the aim of helping young people to find the appropriate job opportunity. Remedial primary aim is to preserve and elevate the experiences and skills of Arab youth by employing them in the right place.

♀️ Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative aims at sustainable peace building in Syria through targeting women and providing them with free online courses, workshops, discussion sessions and trainings, with a view to achieving the goals of Gender Equality, Quality Education, Decent Work and Economic Growth, which all fall into the interest of society as a whole and serve the purpose of rebuilding it.