supreme to an 11 happened also known as the Arab Spring the regime
also known as the Arab Spring the regime
also known as the Arab Spring the regime of my country was so corrupt and the
of my country was so corrupt and the
of my country was so corrupt and the people were hungry for change but the
people were hungry for change but the
people were hungry for change but the government tried to shut down any
government tried to shut down any
government tried to shut down any dissent at any cost they were willing to
dissent at any cost they were willing to
dissent at any cost they were willing to use violence and even kill people if
use violence and even kill people if
use violence and even kill people if necessary but we protested we marched
necessary but we protested we marched
necessary but we protested we marched people lost their fear and the
people lost their fear and the
people lost their fear and the government lost their humanity in Syria
government lost their humanity in Syria
government lost their humanity in Syria when you reach 17 or 18 boys were
when you reach 17 or 18 boys were
when you reach 17 or 18 boys were drafted to the army and I couldn’t get
drafted to the army and I couldn’t get
drafted to the army and I couldn’t get an exception despite my doctors efforts
an exception despite my doctors efforts
an exception despite my doctors efforts meanwhile I was still in school had to
meanwhile I was still in school had to
meanwhile I was still in school had to write my final high school exams I was
write my final high school exams I was
write my final high school exams I was getting good marks but it was really
getting good marks but it was really
getting good marks but it was really dangerous to cross certain checkpoints
dangerous to cross certain checkpoints
dangerous to cross certain checkpoints to get to school I took the risk I
to get to school I took the risk I
to get to school I took the risk I couldn’t fill that then I couldn’t throw
couldn’t fill that then I couldn’t throw
couldn’t fill that then I couldn’t throw away all of the hard work eventually the
away all of the hard work eventually the
away all of the hard work eventually the war has started and not that many people
war has started and not that many people
war has started and not that many people were still at my neighborhood but for my
were still at my neighborhood but for my
were still at my neighborhood but for my family my family was still there and
family my family was still there and
family my family was still there and running out of food so my cousin and I
running out of food so my cousin and I
running out of food so my cousin and I decided to start delivering some food
decided to start delivering some food
decided to start delivering some food into the neighborhood we got a
into the neighborhood we got a
into the neighborhood we got a permission signed by the mayor of my
permission signed by the mayor of my
permission signed by the mayor of my city men couldn’t go out cuz the army
city men couldn’t go out cuz the army
city men couldn’t go out cuz the army considered everyone as as a suspect and
considered everyone as as a suspect and
considered everyone as as a suspect and as this as I said they were willing to
as this as I said they were willing to
as this as I said they were willing to kill and did I had papers to go to
kill and did I had papers to go to
kill and did I had papers to go to school likewise other students but on
school likewise other students but on
school likewise other students but on that day I wanted to bring some food
that day I wanted to bring some food
that day I wanted to bring some food into my neighborhood my cousin and I
into my neighborhood my cousin and I
into my neighborhood my cousin and I were arrested at a military checkpoint
the soldiers put bags over our heads and
the soldiers put bags over our heads and sent us to air force intelligence center
sent us to air force intelligence center
sent us to air force intelligence center it’s an underground lawless place once
it’s an underground lawless place once
it’s an underground lawless place once you go there you consider missing we
you go there you consider missing we
you go there you consider missing we thought that’s gonna be the end of our
thought that’s gonna be the end of our
thought that’s gonna be the end of our lives because how things worked there
lives because how things worked there
lives because how things worked there they start
they start
they start to beat me and call me a traitor with no
to beat me and call me a traitor with no
to beat me and call me a traitor with no reasons with no reason and they’ve made
reasons with no reason and they’ve made
reasons with no reason and they’ve made me sign a document even and to this day
me sign a document even and to this day
me sign a document even and to this day I don’t know what I signed and when
I don’t know what I signed and when
I don’t know what I signed and when their leader done got enough he told
their leader done got enough he told
their leader done got enough he told them to send me back to where we belong
them to send me back to where we belong
them to send me back to where we belong meaning to jail but the gods interpreted
meaning to jail but the gods interpreted
meaning to jail but the gods interpreted this as back to the checkpoint they
this as back to the checkpoint they
this as back to the checkpoint they misunderstood the order and it ended up
misunderstood the order and it ended up
misunderstood the order and it ended up saving our lives back at the checkpoint
saving our lives back at the checkpoint
saving our lives back at the checkpoint everyone was shocked how he got back
everyone was shocked how he got back
everyone was shocked how he got back there on a distance my father was there
there on a distance my father was there
there on a distance my father was there he was crying and when I hugged him he
he was crying and when I hugged him he
he was crying and when I hugged him he was crying so much I hadn’t seen him
was crying so much I hadn’t seen him
was crying so much I hadn’t seen him actually crying since my own father
actually crying since my own father
actually crying since my own father passed away I considered that moment my
passed away I considered that moment my
passed away I considered that moment my second birthday literally because I was
second birthday literally because I was
second birthday literally because I was giving a second chance to live it was
giving a second chance to live it was
giving a second chance to live it was really tough I just saw my death hours
really tough I just saw my death hours
really tough I just saw my death hours ago but my dad still was my dad’s tears
ago but my dad still was my dad’s tears
ago but my dad still was my dad’s tears washed it away and I felt I was prepared
washed it away and I felt I was prepared
washed it away and I felt I was prepared to that moment because 17 years ago from
to that moment because 17 years ago from
to that moment because 17 years ago from that moment I was born the Syrian city
that moment I was born the Syrian city
that moment I was born the Syrian city of Homs with an eye condition called
of Homs with an eye condition called
of Homs with an eye condition called nystagmus which means objects are mainly
nystagmus which means objects are mainly
nystagmus which means objects are mainly out-of-focus in my life in addition to
out-of-focus in my life in addition to
out-of-focus in my life in addition to very low vision without being able to
very low vision without being able to
very low vision without being able to define colors which means also that I’m
define colors which means also that I’m
define colors which means also that I’m legally blind I grew up in a
legally blind I grew up in a
legally blind I grew up in a middle-class family like my parents were
middle-class family like my parents were
middle-class family like my parents were farmers and I had their support at the
farmers and I had their support at the
farmers and I had their support at the house my father built I didn’t really
house my father built I didn’t really
house my father built I didn’t really think of myself as different from other
think of myself as different from other
think of myself as different from other kids until that moment the first day of
kids until that moment the first day of
kids until that moment the first day of school it was really tough to deal with
school it was really tough to deal with
school it was really tough to deal with the doctor told my family that I needed
the doctor told my family that I needed
the doctor told my family that I needed a private school
a private school
a private school my family couldn’t afford it so had to
my family couldn’t afford it so had to
my family couldn’t afford it so had to go to our public school at the time I
go to our public school at the time I
go to our public school at the time I was so frustrated like anyone else would
was so frustrated like anyone else would
was so frustrated like anyone else would be in an environment that is
be in an environment that is
be in an environment that is inaccessible at all I had to learn how
inaccessible at all I had to learn how
inaccessible at all I had to learn how to adapt my advocating for myself
to adapt my advocating for myself
to adapt my advocating for myself talking to teacher it gives me more
talking to teacher it gives me more
talking to teacher it gives me more confidence and when I communicated my
confidence and when I communicated my
confidence and when I communicated my needs got closer to a solution we
needs got closer to a solution we
needs got closer to a solution we decided on a chair that would be as
decided on a chair that would be as
decided on a chair that would be as sixty centimeters or less far away from
sixty centimeters or less far away from
sixty centimeters or less far away from the chalkboard I’ve moved that chair for
the chalkboard I’ve moved that chair for
the chalkboard I’ve moved that chair for 12 years of schooling along
12 years of schooling along
12 years of schooling along back-and-forth the chat board and
back-and-forth the chat board and
back-and-forth the chat board and another reason helped me another thing
another reason helped me another thing
another reason helped me another thing that I used to do was taking my friends
that I used to do was taking my friends
that I used to do was taking my friends notes so I can copy what I missed and
notes so I can copy what I missed and
notes so I can copy what I missed and set it back at the same day so he can
set it back at the same day so he can
set it back at the same day so he can study and we managed also to stay for 12
study and we managed also to stay for 12
study and we managed also to stay for 12 years at the same class so he was my
years at the same class so he was my
years at the same class so he was my biggest supporter and he was my
biggest supporter and he was my
biggest supporter and he was my note-taker even officially we didn’t
note-taker even officially we didn’t
note-taker even officially we didn’t have that concept at the time create
have that concept at the time create
have that concept at the time create five ask my father for a computer and he
five ask my father for a computer and he
five ask my father for a computer and he made it happen
made it happen
made it happen it actually was one of the few computers
it actually was one of the few computers
it actually was one of the few computers in the town was a big deal for me
in the town was a big deal for me
in the town was a big deal for me I bought right away
I bought right away
I bought right away National Geographic on cities and it
National Geographic on cities and it
National Geographic on cities and it took me on a journey around the world
took me on a journey around the world
took me on a journey around the world that was the free adventure and I also
that was the free adventure and I also
that was the free adventure and I also wanted to know how the Machine worked
wanted to know how the Machine worked
wanted to know how the Machine worked itself and that what would sparked my
itself and that what would sparked my
itself and that what would sparked my interest in t2 in technology for the
interest in t2 in technology for the
interest in t2 in technology for the first time and I really knew that’s what
first time and I really knew that’s what
first time and I really knew that’s what I’m gonna do when I grow up started to
I’m gonna do when I grow up started to
I’m gonna do when I grow up started to think about more about the world later
think about more about the world later
think about more about the world later at the age of 12
at the age of 12
at the age of 12 start writing poetry and playing chess
start writing poetry and playing chess
start writing poetry and playing chess my uncle taught me how to play but
my uncle taught me how to play but
my uncle taught me how to play but actually garry kasparov was my great
actually garry kasparov was my great
actually garry kasparov was my great inspiration and still and I also went a
inspiration and still and I also went a
inspiration and still and I also went a lot to to the university to watch
lot to to the university to watch
lot to to the university to watch Shakespeare’s work in Arabic was such a
Shakespeare’s work in Arabic was such a
Shakespeare’s work in Arabic was such a great experience that time the age of 16
great experience that time the age of 16
great experience that time the age of 16 I really wanted also to learn more about
I really wanted also to learn more about
I really wanted also to learn more about the world started to read eBooks because
the world started to read eBooks because
the world started to read eBooks because it worked for me I could have I could I
it worked for me I could have I could I
it worked for me I could have I could I could zoom in as much as I want and I
could zoom in as much as I want and I
could zoom in as much as I want and I wanted actually to read the same book in
wanted actually to read the same book in
wanted actually to read the same book in Arabic first and the second time in
Arabic first and the second time in
Arabic first and the second time in English but the main reason I was able
English but the main reason I was able
English but the main reason I was able to teach myself Arabic was watching
to teach myself Arabic was watching
to teach myself Arabic was watching YouTube videos with subtitles and songs
YouTube videos with subtitles and songs
YouTube videos with subtitles and songs with lyrics for almost three years which
with lyrics for almost three years which
with lyrics for almost three years which brings me to 2012 that was biggest
brings me to 2012 that was biggest
brings me to 2012 that was biggest moment biggest decision when I decided
moment biggest decision when I decided
moment biggest decision when I decided to leave Syria because of the war
to leave Syria because of the war
to leave Syria because of the war I left carrying only my high school
I left carrying only my high school
I left carrying only my high school diploma and I stayed with some relatives
diploma and I stayed with some relatives
diploma and I stayed with some relatives who had already fled and stayed at the
who had already fled and stayed at the
who had already fled and stayed at the refugee camp in Lebanon it was a new
refugee camp in Lebanon it was a new
refugee camp in Lebanon it was a new experience new lifestyle with limited
experience new lifestyle with limited
experience new lifestyle with limited access to the basics of living and it
access to the basics of living and it
access to the basics of living and it was hard but for me I took it as a
was hard but for me I took it as a
was hard but for me I took it as a short-term right let’s go to a
short-term right let’s go to a
short-term right let’s go to a short-term and adventure just have fun
short-term and adventure just have fun
short-term and adventure just have fun gonna go back soon but when my family
gonna go back soon but when my family
gonna go back soon but when my family fall with me about three months later
fall with me about three months later
fall with me about three months later everything Exchange will realize that
everything Exchange will realize that
everything Exchange will realize that we’re refugees I was trying to find a
we’re refugees I was trying to find a
we’re refugees I was trying to find a solution I was trying to find something
solution I was trying to find something
solution I was trying to find something to do my life became so boring and I
to do my life became so boring and I
to do my life became so boring and I couldn’t find that solution but after a
couldn’t find that solution but after a
couldn’t find that solution but after a while I started to think about my role
while I started to think about my role
while I started to think about my role in life and what I wanted to do I so
in life and what I wanted to do I so
in life and what I wanted to do I so photographers going to the camp for
photographers going to the camp for
photographers going to the camp for three or four hours and then leaving
three or four hours and then leaving
three or four hours and then leaving I was inspired I was there I lived here
I was inspired I was there I lived here
I was inspired I was there I lived here and I knew how it felt to live there I
and I knew how it felt to live there I
and I knew how it felt to live there I wanted to document this or to document
wanted to document this or to document
wanted to document this or to document my life at the ridge at the refugee camp
my life at the ridge at the refugee camp
my life at the ridge at the refugee camp for the future but the only thing I
for the future but the only thing I
for the future but the only thing I needed was missed
needed was missed
needed was missed the camera was the camera so I got I got
the camera was the camera so I got I got
the camera was the camera so I got I got access into workshop and I’ve met a
access into workshop and I’ve met a
access into workshop and I’ve met a photographers named Brandon Benin the
photographers named Brandon Benin the
photographers named Brandon Benin the workshop was with the United Nations for
workshop was with the United Nations for
workshop was with the United Nations for fantasy of refugee agency and he told me
fantasy of refugee agency and he told me
fantasy of refugee agency and he told me honey
honey
honey you have good eye keep-keep photographic
you have good eye keep-keep photographic
you have good eye keep-keep photographic keep shooting also I started to help
keep shooting also I started to help
keep shooting also I started to help other photographers too we bought it so
other photographers too we bought it so
other photographers too we bought it so I do that I did the translation for them
I do that I did the translation for them
I do that I did the translation for them and they let me borrow their equipment
and they let me borrow their equipment
and they let me borrow their equipment it was such an important life skill to
it was such an important life skill to
it was such an important life skill to learn that time then really wanted to do
learn that time then really wanted to do
learn that time then really wanted to do more to engage more I applied was a
more to engage more I applied was a
more to engage more I applied was a UNICEF job and I applied they wanted a
UNICEF job and I applied they wanted a
UNICEF job and I applied they wanted a drama teacher to teach or to use
drama teacher to teach or to use
drama teacher to teach or to use psychodrama to help to teach or to teach
psychodrama to help to teach or to teach
psychodrama to help to teach or to teach kids about behavior through a story I
kids about behavior through a story I
kids about behavior through a story I told them I’m not a professional but he
told them I’m not a professional but he
told them I’m not a professional but he laughed theaters so much and I can teach
laughed theaters so much and I can teach
laughed theaters so much and I can teach basic English as well so I got the job
basic English as well so I got the job
basic English as well so I got the job they gave it to me was five hours a day
they gave it to me was five hours a day
they gave it to me was five hours a day five days a week
five days a week
five days a week Sundays off and about 400 students went
Sundays off and about 400 students went
Sundays off and about 400 students went through my classes every week and after
through my classes every week and after
through my classes every week and after school I also wanted to help the
school I also wanted to help the
school I also wanted to help the community at the refugee camp so I
community at the refugee camp so I
community at the refugee camp so I started also to help some adults by
started also to help some adults by
started also to help some adults by creating a theater club I wanted them to
creating a theater club I wanted them to
creating a theater club I wanted them to use their imagination so we can help
use their imagination so we can help
use their imagination so we can help ourselves relieve that sadness we were
ourselves relieve that sadness we were
ourselves relieve that sadness we were living in you know what
living in you know what
living in you know what I was making some money but I couldn’t
I was making some money but I couldn’t
I was making some money but I couldn’t really go to that private school close
really go to that private school close
really go to that private school close by couldn’t afford it so all the money
by couldn’t afford it so all the money
by couldn’t afford it so all the money went to support my family I’m still I
went to support my family I’m still I
went to support my family I’m still I still missing my education so much which
still missing my education so much which
still missing my education so much which was taken from me so I convinced my
was taken from me so I convinced my
was taken from me so I convinced my family to start applying to the
family to start applying to the
family to start applying to the resettlement program through United
resettlement program through United
resettlement program through United Nations then we did we applied after a
Nations then we did we applied after a
Nations then we did we applied after a process interviews we got we got a we
process interviews we got we got a we
process interviews we got we got a we asked we were asked from the Katie NPC
asked we were asked from the Katie NPC
asked we were asked from the Katie NPC for an interview we went there and they
for an interview we went there and they
for an interview we went there and they were so happy that I could speak English
were so happy that I could speak English
were so happy that I could speak English at that time later I got that magical
at that time later I got that magical
at that time later I got that magical call from the embassy as well telling me
call from the embassy as well telling me
call from the embassy as well telling me that I was accepted in Canada I was so
that I was accepted in Canada I was so
that I was accepted in Canada I was so thrilled finally it’s time to go to a
thrilled finally it’s time to go to a
thrilled finally it’s time to go to a place where I can where it can continue
place where I can where it can continue
place where I can where it can continue my education it was a huge huge
my education it was a huge huge
my education it was a huge huge challenge so eventually we were shuttled
challenge so eventually we were shuttled
challenge so eventually we were shuttled in Regina Saskatchewan it was really
in Regina Saskatchewan it was really
in Regina Saskatchewan it was really challenging but then I got a sense of
challenging but then I got a sense of
challenging but then I got a sense of the community six months later I was
the community six months later I was
the community six months later I was asked invited to Toronto and asked to
asked invited to Toronto and asked to
asked invited to Toronto and asked to speak about my work that wasn’t with the
speak about my work that wasn’t with the
speak about my work that wasn’t with the Canadian journalist for free expression
Canadian journalist for free expression
Canadian journalist for free expression and I was so happy and thrilled because
and I was so happy and thrilled because
and I was so happy and thrilled because I realized how valuable my work was at
I realized how valuable my work was at
I realized how valuable my work was at the camp documenting people’s life and
the camp documenting people’s life and
the camp documenting people’s life and then I got back to Regina with a lot of
then I got back to Regina with a lot of
then I got back to Regina with a lot of confidence really wanted to engage more
confidence really wanted to engage more
confidence really wanted to engage more to give back to the community that
to give back to the community that
to give back to the community that helped me my family so I was asked also
helped me my family so I was asked also
helped me my family so I was asked also to give some presentation to all the
to give some presentation to all the
to give some presentation to all the units at the RCMP of Regina or in Regina
units at the RCMP of Regina or in Regina
units at the RCMP of Regina or in Regina it was a great experience because I used
it was a great experience because I used
it was a great experience because I used my knowledge to inform them about the
my knowledge to inform them about the
my knowledge to inform them about the newcomers so you can have an idea from a
newcomers so you can have an idea from a
newcomers so you can have an idea from a different lens I was attending Yale
different lens I was attending Yale
different lens I was attending Yale at the university there and in the
at the university there and in the
at the university there and in the summer I wanted also to use the same
summer I wanted also to use the same
summer I wanted also to use the same skill I used with the kids in the camp
skill I used with the kids in the camp
skill I used with the kids in the camp to share it with newcomer kids they
to share it with newcomer kids they
to share it with newcomer kids they didn’t actually speak each other
didn’t actually speak each other
didn’t actually speak each other language so I wanted to give them a
language so I wanted to give them a
language so I wanted to give them a space where they can interact using the
space where they can interact using the
space where they can interact using the language of art and it was great at that
language of art and it was great at that
language of art and it was great at that the end of that summer I saw an ad of
the end of that summer I saw an ad of
the end of that summer I saw an ad of Facebook about the prime-minister Youth
Facebook about the prime-minister Youth
Facebook about the prime-minister Youth Council I had said it at the beginning
Council I had said it at the beginning
Council I had said it at the beginning but I opened it and I saw that it’s not
but I opened it and I saw that it’s not
but I opened it and I saw that it’s not really asking about your education level
really asking about your education level
really asking about your education level it’s asking about more about your
it’s asking about more about your
it’s asking about more about your engagement and experience so I believed
engagement and experience so I believed
engagement and experience so I believed in my chances and I applied that moment
in my chances and I applied that moment
in my chances and I applied that moment we really had a lot of confidence in it
we really had a lot of confidence in it
we really had a lot of confidence in it when I saw an email telling me about
when I saw an email telling me about
when I saw an email telling me about there were 16,000 application I was
there were 16,000 application I was
there were 16,000 application I was shocked I was like cool probably I’m not
shocked I was like cool probably I’m not
shocked I was like cool probably I’m not gonna make it but in that I got an email
gonna make it but in that I got an email
gonna make it but in that I got an email saying you were you’re selected I was so
saying you were you’re selected I was so
saying you were you’re selected I was so happy because that’s something I really
happy because that’s something I really
happy because that’s something I really missed at home it’s actually to speak to
missed at home it’s actually to speak to
missed at home it’s actually to speak to politicians and to enjoy the free free
politicians and to enjoy the free free
politicians and to enjoy the free free speech that we have here so I really
speech that we have here so I really
speech that we have here so I really wanted to help my friends not with the
wanted to help my friends not with the
wanted to help my friends not with the council and also working with other
council and also working with other
council and also working with other ministers to shape policies that affect
ministers to shape policies that affect
ministers to shape policies that affect young people because young people are
young people because young people are
young people because young people are the future and the present as well and
the future and the present as well and
the future and the present as well and also that’s gonna affect Canada to the
also that’s gonna affect Canada to the
also that’s gonna affect Canada to the country who brought me which brought me
country who brought me which brought me
country who brought me which brought me here and give me this this chance and
here and give me this this chance and
here and give me this this chance and I’m so proud of it higher education was
I’m so proud of it higher education was
I’m so proud of it higher education was still there when I came to Toronto
still there when I came to Toronto
still there when I came to Toronto summer in December 2016 I really wanted
summer in December 2016 I really wanted
summer in December 2016 I really wanted to study here and this January
to study here and this January
to study here and this January I got enrolled into the computer
I got enrolled into the computer
I got enrolled into the computer engineering program I was my dream I was
engineering program I was my dream I was
engineering program I was my dream I was taken away from me so I’m studying right
taken away from me so I’m studying right
taken away from me so I’m studying right now at one of the best school here
now at one of the best school here
now at one of the best school here downtown Toronto finally I made it and
downtown Toronto finally I made it and
downtown Toronto finally I made it and it is on it it was on a full scholarship
it is on it it was on a full scholarship
it is on it it was on a full scholarship and I couldn’t ask for more and now my
and I couldn’t ask for more and now my
and I couldn’t ask for more and now my life my life has had painful walls and
life my life has had painful walls and
life my life has had painful walls and glorious highs what I wanted to share
glorious highs what I wanted to share
glorious highs what I wanted to share with you before I go today what I
with you before I go today what I
with you before I go today what I believed helped me to push through all
believed helped me to push through all
believed helped me to push through all the periods of worst adversity even
the periods of worst adversity even
the periods of worst adversity even though these were human traumas I
realized that home that every place
realized that home that every place actually can be home and every place
actually can be home and every place
actually can be home and every place cannot be home for me home now is the
cannot be home for me home now is the
cannot be home for me home now is the people around me and is how I find
people around me and is how I find
people around me and is how I find myself doing the things that feed my
myself doing the things that feed my
myself doing the things that feed my soul and mind no matter what the
soul and mind no matter what the
soul and mind no matter what the circumstances are thank you
circumstances are thank you
circumstances are thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
you
you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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