A student at the Technical Institute of Engineering of the University of Homs, Zainab – twenty-two years old – lives a profound story of redemption in
Homs after years of living with severe hyperkyphosis, a pronounced curvature of the back that caused her severe physical pain during the long hours spent listening to university lectures in classrooms or studying.
But this pain had also ended up damaging Zainab’s self-image.
There was a profound awkwardness in walking down the street, a daily, silent comparison with the erect posture of other girls, with the ease with which others occupied space without questioning how they looked.
The Seeds of Hope project and the meeting with the Step team
The turning point in her life began with a medical consultation and a meeting with the Step team, an organization dedicated to providing physiotherapy and psychological support , and supported by AMU with the Seeds of Hope project . Entering that center marked the beginning of a physical and emotional reconstruction for Zainab, step by step.
Physiotherapy sessions to restore posture and physical well-being
Through physiotherapy sessions with the center’s specialist, the dull, constant pain began to subside. 
Zainab rediscovered the ability to sit for over an hour at a time without pain. She regained stability, regaining an upright posture and finally walking with a lighter feel.
This transformation—visible even to outsiders—has allowed her to once again stand alongside her friends on the street without feeling constantly uncomfortable.
Finally, psychological support
Alongside physical therapy, the girl embarked on psychological support to address the other side of her wound: shyness and fear of judgment. Once embarrassed even to speak up in class, the young student has learned to express herself, regaining her self-esteem . Thanks to the exercises she followed at the center, Zainab has found the strength to participate in discussions and to defend her ideas in front of others.
Looking to the future: the strength of believing in your own abilities
Today, Zainab is able to stand in front of a camera and share her experience, knowing that overcoming fear is the only path to self-empowerment. In thanking the team that supported her in this journey of growth, the twenty-two-year-old extends a thought to those experiencing the same condition:
“Shyness is normal, not a flaw. Our goal shouldn’t be to erase this trait, but to learn to believe in our ideas and abilities, to always be able to express our thoughts and opinions.”