RUBARÎN BEKIR

Shahba- Women and children are the most victimized in the occupation policies carried out in North and East Syria. Children, who are victims of the dirty policies carried out by the sovereigns, often stop dreaming after experiencing severe traumas. Art teacher Soraya Ehmed (23), who had to drop out of the Fine Arts College due to the war waged in North and East Syria, teaches 19 children how to draw pictures by creating a space in a culture center in the Şerawa town of Afrin Canton.

“I want to support children experiencing traumas”

Stating that the children in Afrin suffer from serious traumas due to the war, Soraya Ehmed said that she decided to teach children how to draw pictures in order to support them. “Children are badly affected by war. For this reason, I went to the culture center in order to save the children from these negativities.”

“Children miss their homeland”

Speaking about what children generally draw, she said that children miss their homeland and mostly draw their lives in their homeland. “Every year, children learn different things. Now, some children learn how to cave trees while others learn how to paint shadows.”

“I teach them with the sounds of shelling”

Underlining that she continues to teach children despite the sounds of shelling, Soraya Ehmed said, “We held an exhibition to display the paintings of children by working coordinately with the communes in the town. Children come here to learn how to paint although Şerawa is shelled every day. Sometimes, we hear the sounds of shelling very close but we keep painting.”

Soraya Ehmed wants her students to attend all exhibitions in North and East Syria,” Children create artwork despite limited opportunities. They deserve success.”

“I paint whenever I miss my village”

15-year-old Sînem Elî is one of Soraya Ehmed’s students. Her dream is to become a good painter. “Our village in Afrin was away from the art centers and I couldn’t realize my dream. After being forcibly displaced to Shahba, I had an opportunity to realize my dream. I try to express my feelings in my paintings. I paint whenever I miss my village.”

“I wish the war was over”

14-year-old Suziar Hemmo is another child victim of the war in Syria. “I was not interested in painting but after attending teacher Soraya's classes, I gained courage and began to love painting. I wish the war was over so that we could return to Afrin.”