In this moving first part of the 4-part series of Ataa’s Story, titled From Books to Bullets, we are invited into the early chapters of one woman’s life in Syria—before she became a refugee, before she was forced to flee, before the war redrew the shape of her days.
Ataa was raised in a modest two-room home in a small town outside Damascus, shared with her parents, siblings, and twin sister. Ten people under one roof, and yet, what she remembers most is the warmth. Morning routines. Shared laughter. A father who returned from long hours of carpentry with gentleness and encouragement. Her childhood was shaped not by scarcity, but by connection.
What defined Ataa early on wasn’t displacement—but determination. Her father believed in her education, and so she studied not out of obligation, but out of purpose. Even when the power failed, she read by flashlight. Even when space was tight, she found corners to focus. Her dream was not to leave Syria—it was to teach in one of its universities.
Life at Damascus University brought her joy and routine. It was where she felt most like herself. She wore her values proudly—conservative, colorful clothing that reflected both her faith and individuality. Her world was small, focused on books, friends, and her future. She rarely spoke of politics. Until politics came for her.
In 2011, the peaceful protests that began across Syria slowly interrupted campus life. Friday prayers gave way to demonstrations. Roads were blocked. Professors stopped showing up. Still, Ataa went to the library. Still, she believed she could stay.
Then, on an ordinary day, a sniper’s bullet tore through her neck and exited her back. It also grazed her friend beside her. Strangers carried her to a makeshift medical space—not a hospital, but a hidden room run by those resisting the regime. She was quiet, conscious, and unable to walk.
What follows is not just the story of injury—it is the story of displacement as a strategy for survival. Ataa’s brother was later killed in an airstrike. Her uncle became paralyzed. Her parents decided to bring her to Jordan for recovery. She didn’t want to go. She didn’t want to stop studying. But she packed what mattered—her books, her identity—and crossed the border with hope that she’d return within a month.
She never did.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
Ataa’s memories of life before displacement in rural Syria
Her father’s role in supporting her educational dreams
Navigating limited resources while excelling in school
What daily life was like as a university student in Damascus
How the early stages of conflict began affecting students
A detailed account of the shooting and her recovery
The difficult decision to leave Syria—and what she brought with her
Why This Story Matters
Ataa’s story speaks to the quiet, often unseen lives of displaced women navigating conflict—not only as survivors, but as students, daughters, and leaders in their families. Her voice offers context to what it means to be forced from home, and what it takes to rebuild identity and purpose on the other side of a border.
When we listen to women like Ataa, we don’t just learn about war. We learn about strategy, resilience, and the everyday decisions that define survival.
Sources
These oral histories reflect the personal memories and truths of those who tell them, shaped by time, trauma, and resilience. The Refugee Archive provides a space for these voices, free from political alignment or editorial interference. To support listeners in understanding the broader context of what is shared, we’ve included a selection of publicly available sources that document the historical, political, and social events referenced in this episode. These materials are intended to provide background information, not interpretation.
Links:
Education in Syrian State Schools before 2011 Written by Sara Rammal, Produced by Sharq in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
The International Rescue Committee (IRC), “Are we listening? Acting on our commitments to women and girls affected by the Syrian conflict,” 2014
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