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| The long-distance learners of Aleppo | The long-distance learners of Aleppo |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Mariam Hammad, despite every adversity of war and hardship, is trying to be a student in Aleppo in the dark heart of Syria's civil war. | Mariam Hammad, despite every adversity of war and hardship, is trying to be a student in Aleppo in the dark heart of Syria's civil war. |
| "My city has turned to ruins," she says. | "My city has turned to ruins," she says. |
| Despite being in constant danger, forced out of her home twice by shelling and living without regular supplies of electricity or water, this 22-year-old has refused to give up being a student. | |
| Four years ago, she had just left school and begun at the University of Aleppo when it was hit by rockets, killing dozens of students around her. | Four years ago, she had just left school and begun at the University of Aleppo when it was hit by rockets, killing dozens of students around her. |
| "I saw my friends killed and still now I can't forget what happened," Mariam says. | "I saw my friends killed and still now I can't forget what happened," Mariam says. |
| "I saw a lot of students hurt and injured. There was blood, death. Everything was terrible." | |
| 'Everything destroyed' | 'Everything destroyed' |
| There was intense danger at home too. | There was intense danger at home too. |
| "I came so near to death many times," Mariam says. | "I came so near to death many times," Mariam says. |
| "My family and I rented a house that was only 500m (0.3 miles) or so from the front lines, and a lot of rockets fell in my neighbourhood. | "My family and I rented a house that was only 500m (0.3 miles) or so from the front lines, and a lot of rockets fell in my neighbourhood. |
| "Many of my neighbours were killed, and mortars hit my home twice." | "Many of my neighbours were killed, and mortars hit my home twice." |
| She remembers waking during an attack, unable to see in the dust and darkness and not knowing who was alive or dead. | She remembers waking during an attack, unable to see in the dust and darkness and not knowing who was alive or dead. |
| Mariam talks of life in Aleppo becoming a mix of "horror and danger". | Mariam talks of life in Aleppo becoming a mix of "horror and danger". |
| "I was crying so much when I saw my city in front of my eyes, everything destroyed," she says. | "I was crying so much when I saw my city in front of my eyes, everything destroyed," she says. |
| Choosing optimism | Choosing optimism |
| But her reaction has been to stubbornly carry on and to use her studies as a way of honouring those who have died. | But her reaction has been to stubbornly carry on and to use her studies as a way of honouring those who have died. |
| She became an online student in a warzone, following a degree course run by the US-based University of the People, making a conscious decision to be "optimistic" and to make plans to "rebuild". | She became an online student in a warzone, following a degree course run by the US-based University of the People, making a conscious decision to be "optimistic" and to make plans to "rebuild". |
| But this is far from straightforward, she says over a patchy Skype line. | But this is far from straightforward, she says over a patchy Skype line. |
| "The hardest thing about being a student in Aleppo? Actually, it's being alive," Mariam says. | "The hardest thing about being a student in Aleppo? Actually, it's being alive," Mariam says. |
| There are still occasional rockets and mortar blasts, despite a ceasefire, but there are also big practical problems that would have put off a less determined student. | There are still occasional rockets and mortar blasts, despite a ceasefire, but there are also big practical problems that would have put off a less determined student. |
| Charging phones | Charging phones |
| "We haven't had electricity for two years," she says. | "We haven't had electricity for two years," she says. |
| Instead, people rely on generators that might operate for a few hours at a time. | Instead, people rely on generators that might operate for a few hours at a time. |
| Mariam goes to a local shop with a small generator, where it can take 12 hours to charge up her mobile phone and an old laptop, and then she ekes out the charge so she can study. | Mariam goes to a local shop with a small generator, where it can take 12 hours to charge up her mobile phone and an old laptop, and then she ekes out the charge so she can study. |
| Internet connections are sporadic and weak - and when an exam was approaching, there was an internet blackout. | Internet connections are sporadic and weak - and when an exam was approaching, there was an internet blackout. |
| Worried that she would be failed, Mariam began to make preparations to travel to Damascus to find a way of sitting the exam. | Worried that she would be failed, Mariam began to make preparations to travel to Damascus to find a way of sitting the exam. |
| Even by the standards of a civil war, she says, this would have been extremely dangerous, but friends managed to make contact with the university, and she was able to re-arrange the exam. | Even by the standards of a civil war, she says, this would have been extremely dangerous, but friends managed to make contact with the university, and she was able to re-arrange the exam. |
| Heat and light are daily challenges, particularly in winter, with temperatures in Aleppo below freezing this week. | Heat and light are daily challenges, particularly in winter, with temperatures in Aleppo below freezing this week. |
| Water is available only every three or four weeks. "When we have water, we store huge amounts," she says, filling every container. | Water is available only every three or four weeks. "When we have water, we store huge amounts," she says, filling every container. |
| 'Normal day' | 'Normal day' |
| There have been long battles between government and rebel armies in Aleppo, but there are also forces of the so-called Islamic State not far from the city. | There have been long battles between government and rebel armies in Aleppo, but there are also forces of the so-called Islamic State not far from the city. |
| Mariam says they tried to cut a road to the city a few days ago - but she says there is also the battle of ideas and the need to protect the right to education. | Mariam says they tried to cut a road to the city a few days ago - but she says there is also the battle of ideas and the need to protect the right to education. |
| Their presence makes her even more determined to keep studying. | Their presence makes her even more determined to keep studying. |
| While the high technology of war has rained down on Syria, this young woman has to study at night by candlelight. | While the high technology of war has rained down on Syria, this young woman has to study at night by candlelight. |
| But she doesn't complain. Instead, she talks with understated longing for one single "normal day" as a student. | But she doesn't complain. Instead, she talks with understated longing for one single "normal day" as a student. |
| And what would she do with it? | And what would she do with it? |
| "I want to do a lot of things in this day," she says. | "I want to do a lot of things in this day," she says. |
| "I want to go to my university like any normal student. | "I want to go to my university like any normal student. |
| "I want to go with my friends. | "I want to go with my friends. |
| "I want to sit with my family." | "I want to sit with my family." |
| She pauses. "And I want to see everyone I lost," she says. | She pauses. "And I want to see everyone I lost," she says. |
| Rebuilding a future | Rebuilding a future |
| But in the face of such awful destruction, why is she worrying about getting a degree? | But in the face of such awful destruction, why is she worrying about getting a degree? |
| Mariam says the experience of war has made education seem even more important - something positive that links people to the chance of rebuilding a better life. | Mariam says the experience of war has made education seem even more important - something positive that links people to the chance of rebuilding a better life. |
| "We have this strong motivation to seek it no matter what," she says. | "We have this strong motivation to seek it no matter what," she says. |
| "You can see that in young children going to their schools, even though they can be hit at any time." | "You can see that in young children going to their schools, even though they can be hit at any time." |
| "Education was always important in my life. | "Education was always important in my life. |
| "It gives me hope that I can have a better future. | "It gives me hope that I can have a better future. |
| "It will help me to rebuild my country and everything that's been destroyed." | "It will help me to rebuild my country and everything that's been destroyed." |
| Mariam is studying a business degree with the University of the People, based in California, which supports people around the world who otherwise would not have access to university - including 15 students in Aleppo. | Mariam is studying a business degree with the University of the People, based in California, which supports people around the world who otherwise would not have access to university - including 15 students in Aleppo. |
| The online university, backed by the likes of the Gates Foundation, Hewlett Packard and Google, offers accredited four-year degree courses, taught by volunteer academics and retired university staff. | The online university, backed by the likes of the Gates Foundation, Hewlett Packard and Google, offers accredited four-year degree courses, taught by volunteer academics and retired university staff. |
| The university's president, Shai Reshef, says: "We are an alternative for those who have no other alternative." | The university's president, Shai Reshef, says: "We are an alternative for those who have no other alternative." |
| Mariam sees her studying as a kind of lifeline and source of hope - and she says any other students around the world should appreciate the chances they have. | Mariam sees her studying as a kind of lifeline and source of hope - and she says any other students around the world should appreciate the chances they have. |
| She can only dream of having a "normal life like them". | She can only dream of having a "normal life like them". |
| "I hope that whoever sees my story will not be discouraged by difficulties they face," she says. | "I hope that whoever sees my story will not be discouraged by difficulties they face," she says. |
| "I believe that after every hardship comes a great rebirth, and in honour of ever friend, neighbour and Syrian who lost his life due to this war, we must stay optimistic." | "I believe that after every hardship comes a great rebirth, and in honour of ever friend, neighbour and Syrian who lost his life due to this war, we must stay optimistic." |
| And if that faith wavers? | And if that faith wavers? |
| "If I feel down, my mother says to me, 'This will pass.'" | "If I feel down, my mother says to me, 'This will pass.'" |