Nora* first experienced loss 35 years ago as a child. She grew up in Qusayr, a town in Homs, Syria. One day, she came home and found that her father had disappeared. For over a decade, her family lived in uncertainty, often assuming he had died. When her classmates asked about him, she could only respond with tears, while her mother remained silent, knowing that even speaking about his fate could put them all in danger.

With no financial support, her mother worked tirelessly to provide for the family. Then, after 12 years of silence, Nora discovered that her father was still alive. But the joy was short-lived.

“My father was in prison. He was unjustly sentenced to 15 years, and when he attempted to defend himself in a summary military trial, his sentence was extended to life imprisonment,” Nora recalls. “In Syria, a life sentence usually means 22 years, but he remained imprisoned for 35 years, with rare visits allowed.”

Life moved forward in his absence. Nora ached for his presence at every life-changing moment, especially on her wedding day. As the years passed, she built a stable life in Qusayr, Homs, with her husband, a schoolteacher. They also owned a small shop selling electrical supplies, while Nora took care of their three children.

When the war broke out in 2011, everything fell apart. Violence forced them to flee to Damascus. Later in 2014, as the army took control of Qusayr, Nora hoped to rebuild her life. But just days before returning, her husband was arrested for refusing to take up arms.

On the thirty-fifth day of his detention, she received the news she could not believe—he had been killed. ” That was the hardest day of my life,” she remembers. “I lost my partner, and my children became orphans overnight. My eldest daughter was only seven years old. I felt like every door in life had shut before me. I was completely alone.”

The road to healing

She met JRS at the Beit Alberto centre in Jaramana, Damascus. What started as volunteering soon led her to join the outreach team—her first steps towards rebuilding her life.

For Nora, working with JRS was a turning point. With the stability and support provided by her job, she was able to find a home and enrol her children in school, ensuring they received the education they deserved. “This place gave me love, safety, and trust,” she says.

Nora attended workshops with JRS and discovered the power of teamwork. “I am still in the middle of my journey,” she says. “My children are growing, and their dreams are my motivation to keep going.”

“She found solace in helping others. It was as if their struggles gave her the strength to heal,” says Amani, one of her colleagues. On some visits, families were hesitant to speak, but with Nora, barriers crumbled, “she could see beyond what others noticed—she saw deeper than the surface.”

A new beginning

Life’s hardships did not end, but Nora and her family grew stronger. Her eldest daughter is now studying at university, her son is preparing for his secondary school exams, and her youngest continues his studies. Then, something she never expected happened.

After 35 years of unjust imprisonment, and following the fall of the Assad regime, the news Nora had never dared to hope for finally arrived—her father was free. “Thank God,” he whispered. “I was wronged, but I never wronged anyone.”

Nora wasn’t surprised that he chose not to feel anger or seek revenge. “He always taught us never to harm others,” she says. “Our family wants to close the chapter of sorrow.” Even now, it feels unreal. “Sometimes, I hear his voice and rush to check if he’s really there,” she confesses.

*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the person.