Disability is not an Obstacle to Learn.
September 2021
How the ILFH program gave Louay a chance to come out of his shell and express himself.
For 6-year-old Louay, life has been a struggle since birth. Born prematurely at 8 months, and with oxygen deprivation and insufficient access to medical care in his hometown of Daraa, Syria, he developed cerebral atrophy which also made him partially paralyzed.
The family came to Lebanon in October 2020, fleeing the conflict and seeking medical care for Louay, which proved to be difficult as his mother Dalia explained. The father, a handyman who can barely find any work, moved with his wife and 3 kids, Sami, Louay and Sham to a small apartment in Nabaa area in Beirut. One of their relative offered his home with furniture to the family before he moved back to Syria. Their fourth daughter, Nour, was born in Beirut in February of 2021.
Dalia wanted her kids to have an education and get a better future. And when many schools refused to take Louay in due to his disability, she found hope in “Back to the Future“ program. She learned about the program through some neighbors, and she registered Louay in the adapted remote Community-Based Early Childhood Education (CB-ECE) activity; “I Learn from Home” done in collaboration with Seenaryo.
Louay was a very shy kid, and at first, he wouldn’t even participate in class. “He’s very smart but he’s always been shy, even around me,” said Dalia. But little by little, and thanks to the help of his mom and his teacher, he stated coming out of his shell.
“His understanding has improved and now he memorizes things a lot faster than before. I feel he’s becoming more aware, his teacher is encouraging him a lot, and he loves it! He is much more confident now and his self-esteem has improved significantly.”
In his remote classes that started in May, and along with his sister Sham who also just joined the program, Louay learns Arabic, English, Math and Science. He’s now participating in class and he’s always happy when the teacher gives him a compliment. “Now he talks, communicates and asks for things that he wants, he’s becoming just like his siblings.”
His teacher noticed a major improvement in his character. “The teacher asks me to send videos of his homework, she really loves his work and his communicating abilities. I’m so happy to see how much Louay has changed since the beginning of the course, and if that proves anything, it’s that disability couldn’t stand as a barrier to learning. I definitely want him to continue studying, and even though I’m scared for him, I hope he gets a better future,” says Dalia.
“Back to the Future” is funded by the European Union, through the EU Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis, the EU Madad Fund, and implemented in partnership by AVSI, Terre des Hommes Italy in Lebanon and War Child Holland in Lebanon.
