'I Feel Happy Because We Did That With Our Own Hands': Rising After A Fall

When Khaled had a serious fall on a mountain in northern Lebanon, everything changed. He remembers the pain, the fear, and the long months of recovery, but also the moment he decided to rise again. Now 23, Khaled lives in Aazqi, a small village in the Akkar region. His story is one of resilience, faith, and determination.

Years ago, a hiking accident left him with a physical disability, yet his spirit remained unbroken. “I do not see myself as different from anyone,” he says with quiet pride. “Before the accident, I worked with my father and cousin painting houses and working in the fields. I always loved learning and doing things with my own hands.”

When Khaled learned about a beautification and cleaning initiative in his village through the ELEVATE project, Khaled saw it as a new beginning. The project is funded by KOICA, implemented by IOM Lebanon in partnership with World Vision Korea and World Vision Lebanon. 

The ELEVATE project aims to enhance livelihoods and community infrastructure for vulnerable Lebanese communities and Syrian refugees in crisis-affected areas of Akkar and North Lebanon, while generating evidence to inform inclusive, sustainable, and resilient programming.

Khaled joined a group of young women and men who worked together to clean roads, paint walls, and restore public areas.

“We worked together like one family,” he recalls with a smile. “We shared laughter and helped each other through the hard work. People in the village would stop to thank us, take photos, and tell us how proud they were. Seeing the bright colours and clean streets made us all feel that the village had come back to life.”

For Khaled, this experience went far beyond earning an income. It gave him purpose, self-confidence, and a renewed sense of belonging. “Before, there were places in Aazqi I had never visited,” he says. “Now I go there, and people welcome me. I feel stronger and more accepted.”

The project helped shift how others in his community see him, but more importantly, how he sees himself. “Sometimes I need help with small things, but I have learned to adapt,” he says. “People now look at me as someone who contributes, not someone who needs support. That makes me proud.”

Khaled hopes that similar initiatives will continue to reach his village. “Every time I pass by the painted walls or clean roads, I feel happy because we did that with our own hands,” he shares. “I want Aazqi to stay beautiful, and I want people to see that everyone, no matter their ability, has value.”

He pauses for a moment; his voice filled with calm conviction. “In life, patience and faith can turn pain into strength. What matters is not how you fall, but how you rise again.”