X
“After the foundation’s drama therapy programme, I felt as if I was born again as a completely new and different person.”
“I have a stronger personality and now have friends who care about me. My fear for my kids has significantly decreased, and I have started standing up for myself.”
My name is Ruwayda. I am a 40-year-old Lebanese woman living in Tripoli, Lebanon. I have a technician certificate in decoration and design, but I am unemployed. I have four kids.
I have been through so many traumatic experiences in my life that I don’t know where to start. I remember that my biggest shock was when my dad was shot in front of my eyes when I was only 10 years old. To this day, I am still afraid of going out on that road.
A few years later, I experienced a similar situation when a car crashed into ours. I remember the image vividly – my dad’s leg was cut and injured and my mom’s back was soaked with blood. My siblings, who were very young, were crying and screaming.
Every time I remember these events, I feel my heart beating really fast in my chest, and every time I get into a car, I feel as if someone is chasing us even though this was never the case before.
In general, I am a very calm person and I try to stay away from problems as much as I can. However, due to living in Tripoli this can rarely be avoided. There is always some kind of armed conflict or shooting in Tripoli. Due to this, I have a constant feeling of fear about life, but I mainly fear for my kids’ safety.
Before joining the foundation’s drama therapy programme, I used to be a very private person. I never shared any details related to my life with anyone. I was always ashamed of where I came from and of the fact that I lived in a small house with my four kids.
When I started attending the sessions at Utopia, I felt an immediate sense of relief. I started sharing information during the sessions that I had never shared before. Also, I started seeing some improvements in my household, such as starting to have conversations with my kids, which was something I used to avoid before the program. Even when the program turned virtual, I waited for the sessions eagerly as it was the only time that I had for myself. Drama therapy has helped me to express my feelings and create a sense of belonging.
My favourite exercise from the drama therapy programme was closing our eyes and dreaming. We can’t change the reality that we live in, but I repeatedly do this exercise as it gives me a sense of hope.
After the foundation’s drama therapy programme, I felt as if I was born again as a completely new and different person. I have a stronger personality and now have friends who care about me. My fear for my kids has significantly decreased, and I have started standing up for myself.
I hope that the Intisar Foundation team will continue doing their drama therapy programmes in our area and helping other women the way they have helped me.
“My favourite exercise from the drama therapy programme was closing our eyes and dreaming. We can’t change the reality that we live in, but I repeatedly do this exercise as it gives me a sense of hope.”
Leave a Reply