A letter from Mona, Syria

A young woman sits on a chair with her fingers on the pages of book open on her lap. She is seated outside a building facing a quiet road. Another apartment building can be seen across the road.

Mona Al Ali is a fourth-year political science student from Aleppo, Syria. OCHA/Basma Ourfali

In 2018, OCHA’s Basma Ourfali documented the story of Mona, a 20-year-old Syrian woman born blind and displaced several times during the war. Despite her circumstances, Mona was determined to continue her education and study political science.

In December 2023, Basma and Mona met again, this time in their home city, Aleppo. Mona told Basma that she had achieved her dream: She is now a fourth-year political science student at Damascus University and wants to become a university professor.

Ahead of International Women’s Day, we pay tribute to Mona’s courage and determination. She’s an inspiration to us all to believe in our dreams and never give up.

Here is her story.

“Even though I was born blind, I am determined to accomplish my goals in life.”

Mona has grown stronger "knowing that it is my right to live and my right to learn." OCHA/Basma Ourfali.

My name is Mona Al Ali, and I’m a fourth-year political science student. I’m a person with a disability: I am blind. I go to Damascus University, but I’m from Aleppo. I go by myself to the university. I bought a cane. I walk and ask people to direct me.

My family and I fled our home in 2011 because of the war. Since then, we’ve been displaced five times. When the war started, I was always scared and couldn’t find stability. But later I felt stronger, knowing that it is my right to live and my right to learn.

I have lost many dear people, either because they passed away or travelled outside of Syria.

Because of our displacement, I had to leave the school for visually impaired people and attend a regular school instead. This was a challenge for me, but my friends there helped me a lot. They read lessons to me, and I wrote them down. I have a special tool to write, it’s called a Braille slate. It comes with a special pen to punch holes in paper.

A young woman faces a boy, who is facing the camera smiling. They stand on a quiet road lined by buildings.

Mona with her nephew in Aleppo. OCHA/Basma Ourfali.

At the time I also started attending UNICEF-supported remedial classes for English and French, after school hours. When I went to school, I recited everything I had learned to my friends. I helped them understand and learn. I love helping others.

The main challenge I faced at school was the lack of Braille textbooks. Copying the textbooks took me several hours every day, and I barely had time to study. Here at university, I now have access to lectures’ transcriptions in Braille, which is very helpful. Braille textbooks are still unavailable, so occasionally my friends read the books to me, and I keep them as audio recordings.

I love to participate in awareness programmes on the radio or TV. I started doing that years ago, through a weekly radio programme called Najmat Al-Lail [The Night Star]. I share my views and provide suggestions to other young people. We discuss topics like early marriage, divorce in the family, child labour and other issues.

I dream of pursuing higher education in international relations and global diplomacy. I also dream of becoming a university lecturer.

A young woman and an older woman stand side by side outside a building facing the camera

Mona with her mother, who is her role model. OCHA/Basma Ourfali.

Those of us who’ve had the chance to receive an education should spread learning to others. That’s how societies develop.

My role model is my mother. She is the source of strength and persistence to face difficulties.

My message to people with disabilities, especially the visually impaired, is to set goals and try to achieve them.

As long as we are alive, we can do it. Nothing is impossible and nothing is definite.