A new reality in Damascus 

Ahmed*’s mother, Layla*, recalls their life before the war with longing: “We lived in a large house with four levels, shared with my husband’s brothers. My husband owned a shawarma restaurant, and we had a stable life. But when the war broke out, warring parties began to take control of the area, attacking civilians and kidnapping people. Staying was no longer an option. When my husband received a direct threat, we knew we had to escape before it was too late.” 

The family fled from Daraa, a city in southern Syria, to Damascus, where they settled in a small, overcrowded home shared with four other families. “We lost everything in an instant,” Layla said. “All we had left was patience. But we didn’t know the worst was yet to come.” 

An accident that changed everything

Once in Damascus, Ahmed was just four years old. One day, as his grandfather was heating water, young Ahmed got too close to the pot. His grandfather tried to pull him away, but the boiling water spilled on him, causing severe burns – an accident that left him with life-changing injuries.

He was rushed to hospital, where he spent three months undergoing painful treatment.

When it was time for Ahmed to start school, his family discovered that he had lost a significant portion of his hearing due to the strong antibiotics he had been given during his treatment. Ahmed could not adjust to his new reality.

He was bullied at school, which led him to withdraw from his classmates and peers. He refused to go to school and lost interest in communicating—even with his own family. The family couldn’t afford a hearing aid, and his isolation only deepened.

A chance to start over

When Layla first arrived at the JRS St. Alberto’s House, in Jaramana, Damascus, she was seeking for medical assistance. Neighbours told her about the centre, and with a mix of hope and hesitation, she decided to reach out.

JRS managed to secure a hearing aid for Ahmed. “It was as if he was born again. He started speaking, joining family conversations, and going outside without fear of being mocked. No one calls him ‘the deaf boy’ anymore. Ahmed is back to being himself,” Layla said.

The hearing aid was not just a medical device; it was the key that enabled Ahmed to regain his self-confidence and restore hope to his family. According to Layla, “Helping a child regain confidence and giving them the chance to live with dignity is the greatest gift anyone can offer.”

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