NAGHAM JAJAN

Qamishlo — In life, challenges can become the beginning of a path to success when combined with willpower and support. This is embodied in the story of young Sama Khalaf, who was born deaf and mute but refused to let her disability stand as a barrier to her ambitions, and managed to achieve her dream of opening her own hair styling and beauty center.

Her mother, Zalfa Othman, says that the family did not initially know that their daughter had a hearing impairment. "When Sama was born, she suffered from many health problems, and we only discovered her hearing and speech loss after she passed her first year. Communication with her was difficult at first, until we met a speech therapist who works with people with special needs. There, she began learning sign language, and today she is able to express her needs and communicate with us through signs and lip movements."

Despite the progress she has made, Sama Khalaf still cannot go out alone, as she faces difficulty communicating with others when asked or spoken to. However, this has not prevented her family from surrounding her with love and support—they are partners in every detail of her life, meeting her needs and ensuring her involvement in decision-making.

Zalfa Othman explains that her daughter received support from a number of institutions, including the "NODEM Organization," which provided her with psychological support and involved her in festivals, events, and various projects aimed at building her self-confidence and encouraging her integration into society. The "Work and Social Affairs Authority," in coordination with the "Women's House" in Rojava, also helped her obtain a hearing aid she needed.

The mother adds that the turning point in her daughter's life came when she enrolled in a training course in hairdressing. Due to her disability, her mother accompanied her throughout the training period. "Sama proved to be one of the most diligent and distinguished trainees. After the course ended, she received a set of hairdressing tools in recognition of her excellence."

Sama Khalaf did not stop at training; she turned what she learned into a real project by opening her own hairdressing center. Today, she receives her clients with confidence and has become stronger and more independent, according to her mother, who affirms that work has given her daughter greater self-confidence and belief in her abilities.

Sama still carries many dreams—she aspires to own her own home and car, and believes that the future holds more opportunities for her.

Her mother, Zalfa Othman, said that all people with special needs should not stay at home but should integrate into society and participate in training courses. "Do not let disability stand as an obstacle to your dreams."