With her crutches, she hurries to the wood carving workshop, and actively begins the day in the workshop. A girl, despite the rigors of days, she has hoped to succeed and have a role in society. She is Mona Haw. Who is nineteen years old and suffers a motor impairment since birth as a result of a congenital defect in her left foot that made her sit in a wheelchair, Mona says: “Whenever I saw the wheelchair beside me, I felt suffocation. I feel that it imprisoned me not to an aid for the movements; I wanted to get rid of it in any way. I struggled and determined to give it up and rely on myself, ” Mona continues her narrative by saying: ” this was the day when I decided to stand on my feet, reclining on the wall and tried to walk without a wheelchair. I succeeded in doing so and was happy, I felt as if I was born again. I felt like you, like everyone else.” Mona phrases assured me that we actually underestimate the ability of their society and regards them as a burden upon us. We ignore their issues and their abilities and potential. They with their will and determination were able to prove that disability is not in their bodies, but in the way of thinking of those around them, and proved that they are not less powerful than their peers; they just need a chance to prove themselves. Mona says confidently: “Care for us, and you will be surprised of what we can do”
Because of her disability and the words that she use to hear from those around her since childhood, deprived her from completing her education and dropped out school in elementary stage. She stayed at home, and grew up while nostalgic for education that grew with her. Every time she sees a book and likes its cover, she buys it and keeps in her house, hoping, one day, to be able to read it.
Despite the difficult circumstances, the ambitions Mona did not stop. She wanted to leave a mark in her community, and to prove to everyone that she can do something that can’t be done by healthy ones. She learned the craft of embroidery and the formation of beads. She produced fantastic designs and wanted the whole world to see, but her inability to use computers and the internet formed an obstacle to the publishing of her designs.
During their quest to develop herself, Mona heard about Irada program that provides vocational training opportunities for women with disabilities. she rushed to register for the project ” improving employment opportunities for persons with disabilities,” which is being implemented with funding from Human Appeal- UK. She selected carving on wood, but was pinpointed that in this specialization she will learn how to use saws and other tools that can be difficult to use because of crutches. she left the crutches and stood firmly on her feet and said: “I want to learn the profession, and I’m ready I stand even on one foot without crutches to be like others.” Her determination was an indication that Mona would be a success story. She joined the training workshop that she selected and was a distinguished student. She learned using machines and became a manufacturer of trays, wooden boxes, and various other products. Mona says, “I wanted to excel a profession to rely on myself, and to be a source of income for me in the future. I registered in Irada program, and that was the best thing I did in my life. I felt I turned the page of the past and started to write a new story to life I wish for. I didn’t have friends, no one wanted be my friend, but now I have friends, I share with them the beautiful moments; I have become confident and love the people around me. “
Mona succeeded and became qualified for work. She and others like her with disabilities rise above the world of suffering to tell the world that they have a right to rehabilitation, training, and have the right to decent work. The role of the competent authorities concerned with disability issues is to highlight their success and provide the enabling environment for them to be able to realize their dreams of living a decent life along with their families.
