Meet Zakaria Al-Mousa, a remarkable 12-year-old boy whose got the kind of courage that is hard to find. His story is a tough one, but it’s also full of hope and strength.

One fateful day, while innocently playing with his younger brother Omar in a nearby field, tragedy struck. A remnant from the war, a lingering mine, detonated and immediately claimed Zakaria’s foot and tragically, Omar’s life. Zakaria and his family, who w vvere already displaced from Idlib, migrated to Azaz, north of Aleppo. However, misfortune persisted as a devastating earthquake ravaged the region on Feb-ruary 6, reducing their newfound home to rubble. But Zakaria didn’t give up. Despite the physical and emotional toll of losing his foot and suffering through the earthquake, he persevered. Zakaria needed a new prosthetic limb due to his rapid growth, but the cost seemed insurmount-able. However, a beacon of hope emerged when Zakaria’s family discovered the Sijo prosthetic center— where artificial limbs and holistic support are provided to help people get back on their feet, both in body and spirit. At the center, Zakaria found more than just a prosthetic limb; he discovered solace and compan-ionship. The psychologist Muhammad supported him in talking through his feelings and fears after all the incidents he had endured. Zakaria started to heal from the inside out.

Now equipped with a new limb and renewed optimism, Zakaria dares to dream bigger than ever before. His aspirations are simple yet profound. He wants to finish school. He wants to play football. He believes in a future where he can do more than just survive – one where he can truly live and thrive.

Zakaria is grateful for the Sijo prosthetic center and for the new start they’ve given him. He’s a symbol of true resilience, and his spirit is unbreakable. Yet, Zakaria’s narrative is not the only one. Countless children like him, who grew up in the war, bear untold tales and aspirations longing to be acknowledged—a testament to the resil-ience of the human spirit and the power of collective empathy and support.