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| Man blinded by explosion in Syria graduates from University of Bristol | |
| (17 days later) | |
| University of Bristol graduate Maher Fattouh was blinded in an explosion aged 21 | University of Bristol graduate Maher Fattouh was blinded in an explosion aged 21 |
| A Syrian man who was blinded by an explosion while fleeing his country has shared his story after graduating from the University of Bristol. | A Syrian man who was blinded by an explosion while fleeing his country has shared his story after graduating from the University of Bristol. |
| Maher Fattouh, 32, lost his sight when a bomb exploded as he crossed the border into Lebanon in 2014 to escape military service under Bashar al-Assad's regime. | Maher Fattouh, 32, lost his sight when a bomb exploded as he crossed the border into Lebanon in 2014 to escape military service under Bashar al-Assad's regime. |
| After moving to England he earned an English teaching qualification from the University of Cambridge in 2022 before studying for a master's in Psychology of Education in Bristol. | After moving to England he earned an English teaching qualification from the University of Cambridge in 2022 before studying for a master's in Psychology of Education in Bristol. |
| "I'd like to show that a person with massive, massive challenges can live safely and independently and achieve academic excellence," Mr Fattouh said. | "I'd like to show that a person with massive, massive challenges can live safely and independently and achieve academic excellence," Mr Fattouh said. |
| Mr Fattouh shared his inspiring story during his graduation | Mr Fattouh shared his inspiring story during his graduation |
| Mr Fattouh, from Damascus, was only 21 when he was told he would never see again. | Mr Fattouh, from Damascus, was only 21 when he was told he would never see again. |
| He could not speak English, and would pay a friend to read to him. | He could not speak English, and would pay a friend to read to him. |
| "I'm really proud of owning my story. I lived so many dark periods for so long," he said. | "I'm really proud of owning my story. I lived so many dark periods for so long," he said. |
| "For a long time one of my dreams was just to open a bank account, because I couldn't as a Syrian." | "For a long time one of my dreams was just to open a bank account, because I couldn't as a Syrian." |
| He shared his story with an audience of 1,000 people during his graduation. | He shared his story with an audience of 1,000 people during his graduation. |
| "In my community, the definition of visual impairment is a 'fall into darkness'," he said. | "In my community, the definition of visual impairment is a 'fall into darkness'," he said. |
| "You won't be able to manage, you will live dependent on others, you may be excluded, you may lose opportunities and life may be miserable and depressing." | "You won't be able to manage, you will live dependent on others, you may be excluded, you may lose opportunities and life may be miserable and depressing." |
| Mr Fattouh explained he decided to "disagree with that definition" and "choose an entirely different scenario". | Mr Fattouh explained he decided to "disagree with that definition" and "choose an entirely different scenario". |
| Mr Fattouh is now working as an academic support officer in London | Mr Fattouh is now working as an academic support officer in London |
| By 2018, he was teaching other visually impaired people when he received his high school diploma, before moving on to university study in Cambridge and Bristol. | By 2018, he was teaching other visually impaired people when he received his high school diploma, before moving on to university study in Cambridge and Bristol. |
| He has now found a job as an academic support officer in London. | He has now found a job as an academic support officer in London. |
| Mr Fattouh said he chose to move to Bristol because the cobbles "feel identical" to those in Damascus and the city is full of churches and monuments. | Mr Fattouh said he chose to move to Bristol because the cobbles "feel identical" to those in Damascus and the city is full of churches and monuments. |
| "People are so kind here. If I stopped to wait for a taxi, I'd get many people offering to help me cross the road," he said. | "People are so kind here. If I stopped to wait for a taxi, I'd get many people offering to help me cross the road," he said. |
| He said the University of Bristol gave him lots of extra support and he "loved" the disability services they offered. | He said the University of Bristol gave him lots of extra support and he "loved" the disability services they offered. |
| Prof Evelyn Welch, the university's vice-chancellor and president, said: "Maher is a remarkable man who has shown amazing fortitude and resilience to achieve all he has, despite the challenges he has faced." | Prof Evelyn Welch, the university's vice-chancellor and president, said: "Maher is a remarkable man who has shown amazing fortitude and resilience to achieve all he has, despite the challenges he has faced." |
| Mr Fattouh has not been back to Syria in more than 10 years but he hopes the change of government will allow him to return to visit family soon. | Mr Fattouh has not been back to Syria in more than 10 years but he hopes the change of government will allow him to return to visit family soon. |
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