One day, Mazen stood in front of the school door. He wasn’t late, he wasn’t naughty, but he was unwanted. The teacher’s look said everything before the words, “You are weak—your existence is useless.” Mazen heard the words of despair every day. In class, “You won’t succeed.” At home, “We don’t expect anything from you anymore.”

He began to believe that failure was his second name, but when he attended the Transformational Community Development (TCD) group, he wasn’t asked about his grades; he was asked about his heart, about his passion, and about what he loves. There, between a small playground and a simple goalpost, Mazen discovered his true talent—he was a good goalkeeper, brave and tenacious. He started playing enthusiastically, defending his team, and finally defending himself. Time passed, and the school that rejected him began to testify to his good behavior.

As for Mazen, he is no longer that broken child. Rather, the evidence has shown that rejection did not cancel his value. Every child, when finding someone who believes in them, can finally stand tall.

Thank you,

Written by Kerstina, Fady, and Bassem, GHNI TCD Workers