Abdurrahman's Journey Towards Mobility
In the dusty, sun-soaked landscape of Kirikhan container city, Abdurrahman El Muhamed dreams of a world beyond his confines.
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In a modest, sparsely furnished room within the Kirikhan container city, 13-year-old Abdurrahman El Muhamed finds comfort lying on a bed of soft pillows. Strategically arranged, they support his head and back, propping him up as additional cushions cradle his sides under his armpits. The simplicity of the room reflects the family's challenging circumstances. Beside him sits his mother, Suphiye, gesturing animatedly as she shares their story. In this intimate setting, despite the harsh realities outside, a sense of connection and resilience fills the air, hinting at the hope that lies ahead.
Born in Syria, Abdurrahman was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP), a condition that has made mobility a significant challenge for him. His family, displaced by the ravages of war and natural disasters, faces an uphill battle, living in a container home with no steady income. Abdurrahman’s father suffers from a heart condition that hampers his ability to work, leaving the family reliant on meager support and charity.
Abdurrahman is the second youngest among four siblings, a lively boy who loves to play with his brothers and sister. Though he faces physical and mental challenges, his spirit shines brightly. He enjoys music and starts to shift to music in excitement when he hears it. His fondness for his mother’s stories reminds him of happier times back in Hama, Syria, where his family once kept sheep and goats.
Until recently, getting outdoors was not easily possible for Abdurrahman. He was confined to the limited space of their humble home with an old, worn-out wheelchair that had become uncomfortable and difficult to use. That changed when outreach team members from Hatay Municipality engaged with families in the container city to assess their challenges and needs. During one of these routine visits to the Atış alanı container city, the team met the El Muhamed family. Upon arrival, they quickly sensed the hardships the family faced, despite their resilience.
The outreach workers proceeded to promptly perform an assessment in the family’s container home. They observed the daily challenges Abdurrahman encountered and recognized how a wheelchair could significantly enhance his mobility and quality of life. They informed Suphiye about UNICEF's Early Child Intervention support programme and how they could work together to secure an assistive device for Abdurrahman.
UNICEF, within the scope of its Early Child Intervention programme, implemented in partnership with Hatay municipality in Kirikhan and with the generous financial contributions of BMZ through KfW Development Bank, provided him with a new wheelchair designed for better support and comfort. This updated device, which features a reclining option, is more suitable for Abdurrahman’s needs and allows for easier navigation. As his mother gently helps him into the chair, since Abdurrahman cannot manage this on his own due to his physical disabilities, she happily notes:
“This is a much stronger chair and the wheels turn well. Once I lift him up onto the wheelchair, it is much easier to maneuver. It will make our morning strolls a breeze”.
Through this small yet powerful device, Abdurrahman now has the chance to enjoy the outdoors, forge friendships and experience a sense of belonging in a community that had once felt distant.
While challenges remain for Abdurrahman's family, the provision of this wheelchair has opened new doors. It serves as a reminder that with support and compassion, even the steepest obstacles can be overcome. As Abdurrahman wheels his way into life outside their container home, he embodies resilience, hope, and the unyielding human spirit. With each turn of the wheel, he moves closer to the community, and closer to living a more normal life.
