Asmaa, shows you how to “Let your dreams be bigger than your fears”….

Staring at the window and gazing into the gardens on the other side; reflecting on the past year with all its potentials, opportunities and challenges. I find myself smiling to the abstract and thinking of “her” with her smiling face for I have never once seen her frown upon her misery or lament her pains. I remember “her” with a sigh of relief and a wishful belief that she is looking down upon us with her comforting smile, patting on our shoulders without a word. I find tears coming to my eyes; happy tears that make you content.

Do you know what it is like when you have waited for someone for so long and finally meet them? All the waiting, longing and anticipation; suddenly relieved by the moment you glance their sight. Feelings of relief, a climax and happiness gush right into your soul. A first time expecting parent will surely relate to that; wanting to cross the path of time anticipating the baby. Every passing day, the anticipation peaks and the expectations rise. With every felt kick and every heart beat heard, a bond grows. You fall in love with this unfamiliar person to you and wait to meet impatiently. You wonder about a million things and have growing hopes and sincere prayers to bring to the world, someone who makes a difference, makes you proud in doing so and help you be a better person yourself. Imagine the moment this person comes to the world. Imagine the first time you lay your eyes on a healthy, beautiful and happy person. Suddenly, every moment that passed by in anticipation counts, every pain felt was worth it and every burden was meaningfully replaced by joy and pride. This person’s name is “Asmaa”, a lucky baby for she has numerous parents.

This is my heartfelt note of gratitude and a statement of what she means to me. I personalize her because she is personal to me. Asmaa is the long awaited friend, after years of parting. She is that beautiful someone who has come to the world to make a difference, to make you proud in doing so and to help you be a better person yourself. She means so many things to many people, I am sure. This is what she means to me.

If anyone turns to you asking for help, would you find it in your heart to deny them help? And if you do turn them away for whatever reason, how would you feel? The power to help another is a way we help our own souls. Sometimes helping others is not solely an act of kindness that you voluntarily offer, it is for some of us an obligation. The woman with the smiling face, and so are many others like her, was denied help. She was denied help by people whose obligation was to help her. She passed away because of that; leaving behind her three youngsters all by themselves in this world. Despite striving to help her, together with many others, we failed to get her the help she needed in time. It was personal to me that I have tried so hard and it was personal to me that I have failed to save her life. That thought never left my mind. The thought of someone losing their life because of another person failing on their obligations was intolerable. The thought of three youngsters, the eldest was sixteen years old left all by themselves in the world was intolerable. The thought of relenting to “I did all I can” was intolerable. Her smiling face never left my mind. After many years, Asmaa has fulfilled an obligation due to a woman which was not fulfilled to her in real life.

She brings to my heart a lot of hope that many other lives who have the right to be saved; will actually be saved. She brings hope that every person would realize the power within their own souls and find it their responsibility to stand up for their rights relentlessly. She equally stands as a firm reminder to everyone out there failing on their commitments, their duties, and their obligations. With her fierce gentleness she looks you in the eye and speaks to your conscience that your words, your actions, your beliefs could and would affect someone else’s life. Would you deny someone help if their lives depended on you? Think again. Think hard.And think over again. Asmaa will help change our world; I believe it with all my heart.

Asmaa to me is the teacher who, over six years of her evolution, has practically preached about what genuine commitment really means. No one is paid for commitment or passion. I have known some who are blessed by it, ignite it within their souls and maintain it to drive them. I was once told “passion begets passion”. She has powerfully drawn and multiplied collective eagerness, commitment, passion, tenacity and belief. Asmaa is an example of all that and is on a mission to snowball that. There can never be too much passion or too much commitment. Either there is or there isn’t. I would swear that there is.

True citizenship in not where you have been born, without your choice. It is where you have chosen to live and bond; building a sense of ownership to the people and the land identifying with many aspects that bring you closer. Asmaa, born in the era of the glorious Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions, is an unintended magical sign of resilience and a symbol to revolutionize our spirits to bring about more compassion, empathy and fairness to this world. A beautiful Tunisian, bonding with an Egyptian spirit to highlight that true citizenship is a choice that can be stronger than unprivileged born citizenship.

Someone stated that at some point in our lives and in one way or another we are all Asmaa. I believe so too. For a while, we may forget that despite our challenges, we are powerful. Asmaa was held back by her own fears and was on the verge of giving in. We all do sometimes. She realized that her love for life and her responsibility towards herself is the foundation to discover the power within and step over her fears. As a feminist and a development worker, I cannot overlook the powerful example that Asmaa sets for every woman. It brings to my heart a lot of pride that this example comes from a region where women still struggle for equality. Despite tremendous talent, demonstrated achievements and unquestionable potential, there are those who still strive to keep women in the shadow. Especially after the revolution, it is controversial to tolerate the regression to the space for women issues; every woman is Asmaa.Look to the Asmaa in you; in her potential, in her strength of spirit, love for life, persistence to make a difference and in the power to bring about equity and fairness to this world. Asmaa is a proclamation about the power within each and every one of us; unacceptable to overlook or oppress. Asmaa opens the door to many people to speak up, to live strong and live well. It is up to us to walk through that door or to choose to remain locked in.

The power of believing in oneself is also coupled by the power to believe in others. Six years ago, at the inception of a movie idea, the search for a famous and seasoned writer to tell the story was the direction set forth. At that time, Khaled Abol Naga suggested Amr Salama, saying to me “mark my words; he will be a rising star”. He was right. Overtime, strong belief kept materializing and transferring to everyone who was associated. Many times, the idea could have been placed on hold or waived indefinitely. It is because of a strong belief that Asmaa was realized; a strong belief in the power to relief another person's suffering, to make a difference and the responsibility towards what you believe in. Asmaa is a mesage that if you truly believe, you can be visionary and can realize any dream.

The future of this country and the region will be shaped by young people. They may not be seasoned by experience, but are determined to develop it. Young people are malleable to new ideas. They are willing to change to realize their dreams and are adamant for success. Asmaa is a signature to the power and talent of youth. She is a testimony to take risks; young talented people will make it happen.

Asmaa is the proof of the transformation that can happen to a person, reshape who they are and the way to view life. I believe that every single person who was engaged in the birth of Asmaa has been touched by her existence. I believe this transformation is irreversible and will remain forever in many future events. I believe that every single person who meets (watches) Asmaa will be positively affected, and will reflect deeply on the meaning of living. I believe that the story well told, well presented and well communicated is so hard to detach from. There is a bond that develops between you and Asmaa as strong as you choose it to be. You will relate to Asmaa in many ways. I believe, “She” will change you, and through you will change the world.

My last words are words of truly heartfelt gratitude. Thank you Amr Salama for the inspiration you have brought to my life through your creativity, your honestly and your sincere determination. Thank you Hend Sabry for identifying with Asmaa and adding to her beautiful everlasting smile your genuine, warm talent and personality. Thank you Maged El Kodwany for demonstrating to us that one can alter and be altered if we believe in the power we have within. Thank you, Mohamed Hefzy and Bushra for taking a risk and making your resources work for a cause- that will surely payback on many fronts. Thank you Hany Adel for the music which shivers me each time and fills me with hope and regenerates my energy. Thank you to every person who parented Asmaa and nurtured her to grow into this beautiful and prosperous woman.

Asmaa is the person I want to be to holding on to what I believe, overcoming my fear and stepping beyond what holds me back to reach my dreams. Thank you Asmaa, for making a difference, making us proud in doing so and help us be better people. Thank you for opening the door to change our world.

Wessam El Beih, Janury 8th 2011