Rochelle Junior

As-Suwayda — The wounds of the people of As-Suwayda in southern Syria have not yet healed after the July attack. Everything has turned into a field of resistance and remembrance of the sacrifices of those who defended the city and those who fell victim to extremist ideology.

Thus, drawing transformed for Kristina Al-Shabli from a mere passion into a tool of resistance. The artist tells her story with art as a passion rather than an academic specialization. Although she studied at the institute, she says her artistic career did not begin immediately after graduation, as she did not develop herself right away. However, her passion proved stronger, so she decided to give herself a real chance and to follow the path she loves—drawing, specifically portrait drawing, which she sees as containing fine details and a deep touch that moves her emotions from within.

The beginnings were not easy. Financial challenges were a major obstacle for her, as is the case for many visual artists. Nevertheless, she chose to start from the closest circles around her, so she painted her family members and those around her. Over time, her steps began to widen. She worked as a drawing teacher in one of the schools, which gave her greater experience and confidence. Later, she became a trainer and offered courses in more than one institute, with a clear specialization in empowering people with special needs through art.

Kristina Al-Shabli points out that she organized an exhibition a week before the attack, in which children with cochlear implant patients, children with autism, and other healthy children participated. She explains that every six months she trains a new group of children aged between 6 and 10 years, concluding the training period with an exhibition that includes ten paintings for each child. This exhibition received wide positive feedback.

Transforming Pain into a Humanitarian Act

After the attack on As-Suwayda, she suffered a severe psychological crisis that deprived her of the ability to continue her activities. However, the support she received from her family restored her strength, and she decided to emerge from her ordeal by helping others. This is how she became acquainted with the association “Al-Khair Fينا” (Goodness Within Us), with which she works today, and from here her most impactful initiative, the “Wafa Campaign,” was born.

The campaign began with her drawing the portrait of the first martyr, Issam Azzam. The paintings then continued until their number reached twelve martyrs. Kristina Al-Shabli describes the campaign as strength, willpower, and a mark of loyalty that carries within it all the pain of As-Suwayda. After the city’s people lived through a state of great terror, and after her home was shelled and she was forced to move in search of safety, she found in drawing an outlet to transform pain into a humanitarian act.

She says: “Drawing the faces of the martyrs is psychologically painful work,” as she preserves the features of each of them in her memory. Yet she continues despite all the physical and psychological exhaustion because she feels she is offering something of value to their families—“a sheet of paper bearing their features, their blood, and their strength… something simple, but it gives the martyr’s family hope and pride that their children’s blood was not shed in vain.”

She confirms that the “Wafa” campaign is ongoing and will not stop no matter how intense the exhaustion becomes. She directs a special message to women and to everyone who seeks to start a project or achieve a dream:
“Do not stop in front of any obstacle. Develop yourselves, for difficulties are small compared to ambition. Money is not everything. With just a notebook and a pencil, we launched a large exhibition. My ambition is great—for more exhibitions and to display my paintings in many countries.