STEPPING STONES A Lew Fam s Journey ye RUURS © artwork py NIZAR ALI BADR 3 oat a ts Bok IB ipWith special thanks to Saji Qorqmaz in Syria, whose help made this book possible. Also thanks to Syeda Bacarat Kazim in Pakistan, Basma Nady in Australia ‘ani Bob Tyrell of Orca Book Publishers MR ° Tea ereehi@ is Mines shang sig cg yn ion tea ein sacar 450993 ye) "bieome penal lage cee the vinerand make thor my owes Esp (rch Perel acti apt for pba progean provide bllone gece the Gsenmest of Cn seg he Crd Book Fu nd he Canal Cova othe Atha he Pac esis Cainithruch he BC Ack Cova athe Hk Pahing Ta hei Arwosk resend ad toms a otgry. “Talon to Aric ah abe, ‘re Bk Pash hanks he ns Cal Anais of Greer Vor it ie aby Nia A Bae ty Kesar Alter potas © Nizar Al Be Desay Tas BalaPjap i es SEERPING STONES A Refugee Family’s Journey His dle AL, MARGRIET RUURS Jaga See jhe sills ARTWORK BY NIZAR ALI BADR De NF tps - TRANSLATED BY FALAH RAHEEM aol des ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERSPeace cannot be kept by forces it can only be achieved by understanding,© FOREWORD ¢ world. One day while | was browsing on Facebook, a single image caught my eye. twas a beautiful, ender image ofa mother holding her baby: Behind her, the father was trudging along under a heavy load. The image displayed such strong emotion. It touched me deeply. But the amazing thing was the medium, The image was nat painted; t was not drawn. It was compesed entirely of stones. S: many stories and interesting pictures are shared online by people all over the Wait a minute, I thought, Haw can stones display snch emotion? Who i the artist who can breathe such life into solid rock? looked more closely and noticed that one of the stones was signed: ‘Nizar Ali Badr. I sarched the name and found a Faccbook page full of his amazing work. Each image told a story expressing love, anguish, sorrow or joy: [learned that Nizar was a Syrian, and it soon became evident that ‘much of his work was inspired by the war that has engulfed his country Like everyone else, I was familiar with the refugee stories coming out of the Middle East. For many months I had seen and heard the almost-daily news reports of people struggling to cross borders to safety. Of people frantically trying to eross the Mediterranean Sex in unsale boats, many not making it. Few of us have not been touched by stories of desperate refugees from Syria and elsewhere seeking asylum in the West. Nirar's work spoke to me strongly. In his art I saw people changing —from happy, carefree children into people burdened and fleeing. There was hurt and sorrow. But ultimately there was also love and caring. And, amazingly, all of this told with stones,image not availableimage not availableimage not availableWhen I was little, not so long ago, my brother, mi, our friends and T played on sunbaked soil. We laughed, ran across rocks and sand, free as birds. When Papa came in from the fields, he would sit for a time under the orange tree and tell stories of our ancestors. Se oehed JEG wat Piney ge seo gut) tah oe cis sSaiy jeieal je pacha ts sas |) si who clamoe i385 pb Caicag aad odesimage not availableimage not availableimage not availableaa You have either reached a page that is unavailable for viewing or reached your viewing limit for this book.aa You have either reached a page that is unavailable for viewing or reached your viewing limit for this book.image not availableAt first when our neighbors left, [didn't mind. Thad Papa and Mama and Jedo and Sami I still had friends. ‘We waved goodbye not knowing they wouldn't come back. But when bombs fell too close to our home, Mama and Papa became frightened for us all. Thid my face in Mamas lap and cried — even though I am a big girlimage not availableimage not availableimage not availableWhen wearrived on land once again, Mama and Papa planted seeds to grow flowers to remember those who did not reach freedom. se tab Ue PR ahaa Apt Aide os es jal aye ee ROaa You have either reached a page that is unavailable for viewing or reached your viewing limit for this book.aa You have either reached a page that is unavailable for viewing or reached your viewing limit for this book.aa You have either reached a page that is unavailable for viewing or reached your viewing limit for this book.aa You have either reached a page that is unavailable for viewing or reached your viewing limit for this book.