The Story Behind
The Brave Wings Series is more than a collection of books; it’s a heartfelt mission born from a deeply personal journey of resilience, love, and healing. This is the story of a father and his six-year-old daughter, Wateen, whose life was forever changed by war. Through art, creativity, and unwavering determination, this journey not only transformed Wateen’s world but inspired the creation of a movement that empowers young girls everywhere to heal and thrive.
When Celebration Turned to Chaos
It was supposed to be a day of celebration—a milestone we had been anticipating for weeks. My six-year-old daughter, Wateen, was set to receive her first school honor. Her excitement was contagious as she practiced her smile in the mirror that morning, adjusting the sash she would wear. “Do you think I’ll shine like the sun, Mama?” she asked, twirling in her new dress.
But then came the explosions.
The laughter stopped abruptly, drowned out by the thunderous roar of nearby bombs. The ground beneath us trembled as wave after wave of deafening blasts shattered the stillness. Huge explosions sent pitch-black smoke curling into the sky from every direction, blotting out the sunlight. The once-clear air now carried the acrid scent of destruction, pressing in on us as we huddled together in silence. The celebration we had planned vanished in an instant, replaced by fear and chaos.
Carrying the Weight of War
The war didn’t destroy our house, but it shattered the foundation of our children’s emotional world. Each child carried the weight of those terrifying days in their own way, manifesting in behaviors that left us heartbroken and overwhelmed. Khalid, my once playful boy, stopped engaging with his toys and instead chewed his nails until they bled. Sajid clung to me so tightly that even stepping out of sight sent him into heart-wrenching sobs.
Wateen—my vibrant, curious Wateen—was drowning in a sea of invisible pain. She cried every night, unable to explain why. “Mama,” she whispered one evening, “it feels like the bad dreams are awake.” Her tolerance for even small frustrations disappeared, her focus shattered, and sadness became her constant shadow. Eating was a struggle, sleep an elusive comfort, and even the dark seemed to whisper fears she couldn’t name.
Watching this, we knew we had to act. The war and displacement had left scars that couldn’t be ignored.
The Escape and a New Beginning
A Journey of Fear and Fragile Hope
When the danger grew too close, we made the hardest decision of our lives—to leave. We packed what little we could carry, telling the children it was a “trip.” But every step away from our home felt like a betrayal of everything we had built. The journey stretched over 17 grueling days and 1,768 kilometers, marked by illness, exhaustion, and fear.
At night in our temporary shelter, the children clung to me, trembling at the unfamiliar sounds of our new surroundings. They carried the weight of every explosion they had heard, every shadow of the past weeks, into their dreams. Anxiety lingered in their waking hours, and their once-playful spirits seemed dulled. My heart broke as Wateen sat silently, her crayons untouched. Safety had spared our lives, but not our souls.
The Healing Power of Color
We didn’t stop there. We sought out local activities, finding community-run coloring groups for displaced children. Every week, we saw progress—not just in their coloring but in their spirits. The nightmares faded, their laughter returned, and for the first time in months, I could see a glimmer of who they were before the bombs.
healing wasn’t a destination — it was a journey
From Darkness to Wings of Light
Wateen’s butterfly drawing was more than a picture—it was a message. A reminder that healing was possible. In that moment, I realized that what had worked for my children could work for others. The Brave Wings Series was born from that realization—a collection of books filled with activities designed to help children navigate the emotional challenges of trauma and displacement.
Creating the series became a mission. I poured months into researching evidence-based strategies, consulting with specialists, and designing activities that parents, teachers, and caregivers could use to support children in crisis. The goal was clear: to create a resource that didn’t just help children survive hardship, but helped them soar beyond it.
The series is more than a set of books. It’s a guide for parents to encourage healing, a toolkit for teachers to foster resilience, and a bridge for communities to rebuild connections. It’s proof that, even in the darkest moments, there is a path to light.
A New Flight: A Promise of Hope, to Every Child
The day the missiles fell, I thought we had lost everything—our home, our safety, our children’s joy. But in the ashes of that loss, we found a new purpose. Brave Wings isn’t just a series of books; it’s a promise. A promise that no child’s story has to end in despair. A promise that even in the darkest moments, there is light, creativity, and the courage to take flight.
To every child waiting to spread their wings: this is for you.