Elham: Rising Above Challenges with Determination

Elham El Mohammad, an eleven-year-old girl living near our Jurahiya center, faces physical disabilities and relies on a wheelchair for mobility. Her family relocated to Lebanon in 2017 from al-Raqqa in Syria, and until this year, Elham had been unable to attend school due to rejections from public schools citing her disability. Additionally, she faces challenges, being incorrectly legally documented as only six years old when she is in fact nine.

“She was so upset to see her neighbors and friends going to school when she wasn't. She was so bored at home and she wanted to learn,” Elham’s mother Maha recounts. 

In October 2023, Maha enrolled Elham in Jusoor’s literacy class. “I approached the center about enrolling her, and they were very welcoming,” her mother says.

“I wanted to go to school so I could play and learn. I was very happy to join and be able to learn. I wasn’t shy when I came; I was really happy to be here,” Elham says.

Helping Her Integrate

Her teacher Ms. Hadeel explains that the center took some precautions to make sure that she integrated smoothly and felt welcome and comfortable. “We prepared the children and explained to them about the importance of inclusion and acceptance, encouraging them to get to know her and welcome her. The students were excited to meet her and they interacted with her in a very nice way but not with pity,” she explains.

Elham made a lot of friends at the center, and she made it a point to always attend her classes. She never misses a class unless she’s sick and the next day, she would quickly explain to her teachers that she wanted to attend but was ill. 

Despite relying on a wheelchair, Elham insists on being treated like her peers, seeking inclusion and normalcy in her daily interactions, as do her teachers who value and respect her individuality. She comes and leaves our center on her own, unassisted by her parents or siblings. 

“She does everything for herself and sometimes she sits in the regular chairs not in her wheelchair and I encourage her to do that and do anything she wants to do as long as it doesn’t put her in any danger or potential harm,” Ms. Hadeel explains.

Academic Development

When she first started at the center she could not read or write and could not recognize any numbers or letters. “She had never held a pencil and she was scared to write. I would notice she would keep writing something and then erasing it. I encouraged her to try and told her it was okay to make mistakes and that's how we learn. Step by step she started writing and learning to write the letters and numbers and then her confidence developed,” Ms. Hadeel says. 

Despite her challenges, Elham has emerged as a highly motivated student, making significant strides academically. Her vibrant personality engages both peers and teachers at the center, fostering genuine connections. Known for her generosity, she often shares her food with friends, seamlessly integrating herself into the social fabric of the community.

“When I grow up I want to have my own house and to have my own car,” Elham says. “I want to become a doctor so I can give people medicine.”

Her resilience and positive attitude are inspiring, spreading joy and optimism into the lives of those around her. Elham's unwavering love for life radiates brightly, reminding us of the possibilities that can transform our lives when we are equipped with a positive mindset.