Latakia-SANA
In her wheelchair and with a smile that radiates hope and radiance, Amal Asaad Laiqa receives visitors to her modest library in the village of Beksa in the northern countryside of Lattakia.
The library, which was established by Laiqa as an initiative to encourage young people to read and to activate the cultural movement in the region, includes a wide variety of Arab and international literary novels, poetry collections, short and poetic collections, literary, philosophical and psychological studies, children's stories, and others.
In an interview with SANA reporter, Laiqa, who lost her ability to move due to an accident when she was five years old, stated that the library is just one of her big dreams. A destination for reading enthusiasts and those interested in literature and the month to borrow whatever books and novels they want for a symbolic amount, as everyone welcomed the idea of lending in light of the high prices of books and the inability of some to buy.
She pointed to the increase in the percentage of readers despite the spread of technology and e-books, noting that there are those who prefer the paper version and the fun rituals that accompany reading it. Feelings of loneliness and isolation as a result of staying at home, and I found a refuge in it to compensate for not continuing my academic achievement due to my health condition.
She explained that what encouraged her to move forward with the idea of the library is the people's hesitation to her house and to see the books that she used to arrange in a harmonious way on the shelves in her room and borrow them. Hence came the idea that will benefit everyone, as she found in it a source of livelihood and an opportunity for direct communication with people and friction. For them and for them it will allow them to read their favorite books without having to buy them.
Laiqa expressed her satisfaction with herself and her achievements over the past years, starting with publishing her first poetry collection in 1997, leading to the establishment of the Biksa Literary and Cultural Salon, which constituted an important turning point in the village as a forum for adults and children in terms of attracting many writers and poets and holding events. Entertainment, interactive sessions, and educational activities for children to develop their personality, discover their talents, and refine their skills to mitigate the negative repercussions of what our country, Syria, is going through in terms of war, Corona conditions, and the difficulty of movement due to the transportation crisis.
Seven short story and poetic collections that were inspired by the reality in which we live, and whose pages embraced her reflections and thoughts on love, beauty, freedom, leaving oneself and liberation from worn-out customs and traditions that affirm that we are children of love and life, and writing it needs a human like it.
She concluded her speech with a message to those people who bowed before life and raised the banner of surrender, refusing to confront themselves in the first place and society in the second place, that no one in this universe is able to give them strength unless they are strong from within, adding that she reconciles with herself and accepts her for herself despite her health condition and the support of her family. It had a positive impact on her continuation and today she is wandering in the markets, buying her needs and library supplies, making social visits and sitting with her friends in public places, while there are some people who do not dare to see the sunlight.
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