FADIA JUMAA

Beirut-In the heart of southern Lebanon, one woman has been rebuilding her dreams. Nour Aknan, mother of three, decided to create interactive books and games to help her son with special needs learn in a fun way, turning her simple home into a creative workshop.

Success stories do not always begin in luxurious offices or large showrooms; they sometimes begin on a small table at home. Nour Aknan started creating interactive books and games to help her son with special needs. Over time, she opened her own shop; however, her shop was destroyed in an Israel’s attack. But she did not give up, she started her project again to prove that challenges can be turned into opportunities.

“I started my project seven years ago,” Nour Aknan told NuJINHA. “I started the project in order to help my son learn in a fun way since he is a child with special needs. He could not stay in the classroom for a long time. I started creating interactive books to help him learn.”

Slowly, the people around her began to ask her to create interactive books for their children. “I decided to open my own shop to sell my books,” said Nour Aknan, who was a math teacher. “Due to the economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, I stayed at home. I decided to start my project at home, creating educational games and selling them online until it became a source of income for my family.”

During the recent Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, her shop was destroyed. “My shop was destroyed in an attack. I managed to save some of the products and restart my project.”

Despite all the challenges, Nour Aknan did not give up. “One of the characteristics of women in southern Lebanon is that they never give up. We always rise like a phoenix from the ashes. The games created by me are not only entertainment, but also to develop and support children with special needs, especially those with learning difficulties.”

‘Mothers play a key role in childhood development’

Nour Aknan sent a message to mothers. “You play a key role in your children’s development. You can be a mother, a homemaker, and a successful business owner at the same time. Don’t allow anything to marginalize you, always stand firm.”

The story of Nour Aknan is not only a successful story but also a struggle amid all the challenges. It is an inspiring story telling women that challenges can be turned into opportunities.