Ahmad’s story: Personal tragedy turned powerful plea
"A bullet lodged in my head, causing my heart to stop twice. Today, I stand before you with partial facial paralysis and hearing loss because of a bullet." These were Ahmad’s words during the launch of the “Express without Bullets” social movement.
Ahmad is a young man passionate about football – a sport that once allowed him to express his boundless energy and enthusiasm for life. He recalls having great confidence in himself, enjoying the freedom to go wherever he wanted, and pursuing his dreams without obstacles.
Life took a tragic turn when Ahmad attended the funeral of a friend who had fallen victim to a stray bullet – a sombre event that underscored the fragility of life, especially in an area deeply affected by Lebanon’s ongoing crises. "One moment changed my life. I went to attend the funeral of my friend who died from a stray bullet. In one second, I bent down to tie my shoelaces, and the next thing I knew, I was in the hospital," Ahmad recounted. A stray bullet had struck him in the head, leaving him partially deaf, unable to move half his face.
The once vibrant and confident young man now grapples with his new reality. "The young man full of enthusiasm, love, energy and confidence now feels ashamed of his appearance and fears for his future," Ahmad admitted. His dreams and aspirations seem to hang in the balance, dependent on multiple surgeries he has already undergone and those still ahead.
Despite these immense challenges, Ahmad's spirit remains unbroken. His story is not just one of personal tragedy but also a powerful plea to end the senseless actions that can so easily destroy lives. "All I think about is how I can live and continue life. Stop stray bullets and don’t deprive anyone of their life," he urged.
Ahmad's journey from victim to advocate led him to join “Express without Bullets,” a Youth-LED project implemented by SHiFT at YARD in partnership with ActionAid Arab Region (AAAR). Now an active member, he uses his words to inspire change and ensure no one else has to endure the pain he has faced.
Since its inception, the advocacy campaign has evolved into a vibrant social movement. One powerful example of their work is a peaceful march organised by twenty-five young men and women from YARD to protest against random gunfire. Initiated, planned and executed entirely by the youth group, the march featured banners and slogans raising awareness about the dangers of stray bullets.
Across AAAR’s campaigns, it is often the voices of the youth – of young people like Ahmad – that are heard most clearly as they speak of the kind of world they want to create, together. They speak of a world where you are able to attend the funeral of a friend without worrying about stray bullets; a world where there are no funerals, as a result of stray bullets, to attend at all.
