The early years of Fakhri Sheikh Rashid were filled with simple, youthful dreams. His daily life consisted of walking to school hand-in-hand with his younger brother, reciting the Quran in the mosque after classes, and visiting his grandparents in the countryside during the holidays. However, in 2012, the outbreak of war shattered this peaceful existence.

To escape the smoke and crossfire, his family fled to the rural areas of Afrin in northern Syria. What was supposed to be a brief refuge turned into years of displacement. The village school lacked textbooks, and teachers were unable to attend regularly due to the conflict. Even a warm piece of bread became a luxury. Seeing his younger siblings cry from hunger, fourteen-year-old Fakhri lost the innocence of a typical boy his age, his eyes instead reflecting a heavy, quiet burden.

Fleeing war for survival

In search of a lifeline, Fakhri's father embarked on an uncertain journey to Turkey in 2015. Months later, Fakhri, grasping the hands of his mother and younger siblings, crossed the border. Throughout the arduous journey, the teenager suppressed his fear, knowing he had to become the strongest pillar of support for his family.

Arriving in Istanbul, however, marked the beginning of new hardships. The family squeezed into a dark, sunless basement. Surrounded by an unfamiliar language, cold streets, and the crushing weight of securing their next meal, Fakhri was forced to quit his studies and step into a cramped, stifling factory.

For fourteen hours a day, from seven in the morning until nine at night, repetitive mechanical labor wore down his hands and gradually extinguished his dreams. He briefly returned to school in 2016, but with his father’s deteriorating health, Fakhri had to drop out again a month later. Amid the daily roar of factory machines, he began to believe his life was permanently confined to a world without hope.

A window opens

When the world seemed to close all its doors, an opportunity finally emerged. In early 2019, El Menahil International School reached out to children who had been forced to abandon their education. Although Fakhri failed his first entrance exam, the school and Tzu Chi volunteers refused to give up on a child so hungry for knowledge. A week later, he received a phone call that would change his trajectory—the school offered him a second chance, along with a living stipend, allowing the young boy to leave the grueling factory environment behind.

On his first day back in class, Fakhri sat at his desk, staring at the fresh, ink-scented textbooks before him. There was no supervisor shouting, and no bell demanding a faster pace on the assembly line. In the quiet classroom, sunlight streamed through the windows, warming his desk.

The factory was like a cold corner outside of heaven, and walking into the El Menahil classroom felt like being gently rescued by Tzu Chi's love.— Fakhri Sheikh Rashid, Student

Embracing this hard-won opportunity, Fakhri demonstrated remarkable resilience. Despite struggling with the Turkish language and having been out of school for years, he studied late into the night. His dedication paid off when he completed the eleventh grade at the top of his class. The ongoing scholarship provided a stable foundation, allowing him to soar academically without the constant anxiety of financial survival.

Healing the wounds of war

In 2021, Fakhri was accepted into medical school. The journey from a grease-covered child laborer to a medical student wearing a white coat was paved with sweat and perseverance. His first year of university presented new hurdles; the gap created by remote learning during the pandemic, combined with the curriculum being entirely in Turkish, led to him having to repeat the year. Yet, the continuous support and university scholarships gave him the courage to stand back up.

He pushed through the difficulties, dedicating his days and nights to mastering both the language and his medical studies. By his third year, he ranked fifth in his class in a major examination. In his fourth year, he achieved an outstanding grade point average of 3.4 out of 4.0, securing the position of second in his class.

First, I thank Allah, and second, I thank Tzu Chi, El Menahil International School, and everyone who reached out their hands during my darkest moments. What you have given me is not just an opportunity for education, but the hope to rebuild my life. — Fakhri Sheikh Rashid, Medical Student

Now in his fifth year of medical school, Fakhri aspires to graduate and join the frontlines of humanitarian aid and volunteer service, ready to comfort others who are struggling through hardship. Having experienced the depths of despair, he understands the immense warmth of a hand reaching out at the right time, and he is determined to shine that same light onto those who need healing.

Written by Faisal Hu (胡光中)