As CARE’s Community Mobilisation Assistant working with Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Maryah Damlaj shares in their daily challenges. But she says it has made her appreciate the small things, as well as better understand and empathise with the struggles of humanity.
Since my childhood, I have pursued a life of good health. I have enjoyed eating nourishing foods, playing sports, singing songs, writing and drawing. They are a part of my weekly routine. Each can contribute to our happiness while promoting a better quality of life. My pursuit of a well-balanced life inspired me to seek a background in public health and eventually join an organisation that promotes people’s wellbeing.
It made sense for me to join CARE in promoting the health of those who are particularly vulnerable. As a community mobilisation assistant with CARE International in Lebanon, I ensure the conditions of water and sanitation in refugee households is safe. Usually, my work focuses on promoting health and hygiene, until recently, when I encountered something different.
It was a cloudy, cold day at a village in Zgharta, Tripoli where I was assessing household sanitation needs. Suddenly, I heard a voice calling my name: “Maryah”. My colleague, Mona, was waving to me. “Could you please talk to this woman over here?” said Mona. “She needs you.”
As I approached them, I saw a woman with the saddest face, anxious and miserable. Without any greeting, she asked me to look at her house, which was only a small shelter unit.
“I have three teenage girls and I am so scared,” the woman explained. “There is only one latrine toilet, which is outside our house. A lot of strange men access this toilet and the door cannot be safely locked. My girls are always shy and scared to go in there. Please help my girls!” the mother cried.
The girls were at high risk of sexual harassment. Strange men were entering the latrine every day without supervision. The dignity of the girls and their mother needed to be preserved.
The solution was clear: to build a toilet with proper barriers in a technically suitable area inside the house. It is important for the toilet to be inside the house so that only members of the house can access it and not strangers.
During my follow-up visit, my colleague Mona once again called me over to speak with the woman. This time, the weather was cold, but sunny. As I approached, I saw a smile that stretched from cheek to cheek.
Without any greeting, the woman initiated the conversation with two words: “thank you”. Now, her family enjoys the basic right of having a safe latrine, and inside their shelter.
My experience with CARE and the humanitarian sector has transformed me into a person who appreciates her blessings, big and small. Most of all, I realised that I was not fully human until I learned to empathise and better understand the pain of others.