Meet Special Olympic Jordan's Asmahan Ghazi Zureki By Assmaa Ahmed “I admit that I never expected my life to be totally changed...I was always afraid to talk to people or even get close to anyone in case I would make errors and people would laugh at me...Now I am another person. I can talk freely and express myself very well. The ALPs Congress helps me exchange opinions, views and recommendations with my colleagues.”      — Asmahan Ghazi Zureki Young Asmahan Ghazi Zureki’s life was full of grief and depression trying to cope with prejudices that society, including her own family, has against people with intellectual disabilities. Until, that is, some friends advised her parents that the only remedy for their daughter was to practice sports, which would enable her to mingle with her peers. Her parents took their friends’ advice and allowed Zureki to join Special Olympics Jordan, which warmly welcomed the young girl. Special Olympics Jordan athlete Asmahan Ghazi Zureki and her partner Youssra Al Qazzaz, a teacher, attend the Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa Athlete Leadership Programs Congress. For more Special Olympics athlete profiles, please visit Meet our Athletes. Special Olympics had a significant impact on Zureki; her life completely changed. She became more lively, talkative and energetic. Her family and their friends could not believe the remarkable changes that took place in the girl’s personality; they were glad and proud of her. And so was Zureki. With every look of admiration or compliment she received from them, she became happier. She realized that she finally succeeded in breaking barriers she had been locked behind for years. Zureki’s latest achievement was her participation in the 3rd Regional Athlete Leadership Programs Congress held in Tunisia during the 2004 Regional Games. (Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Programs — ALPs — allow athletes to explore opportunities for participation in roles previously considered “non-traditional.” Through ALPs, athletes serve on Boards of Directors or local organizing committees and excel as spokespersons, team captains, coaches and officials.) As a delegate of Special Olympics Jordan, she represented her school, Nazek El-Hariri, and was accompanied by Youssra Al-Qazzaz, an instructor at Al-Amal Special Education School. In 2003, Zureki represented her National Program in the ALPs Congress at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Ireland, where she also competed in athletics, winning silver and bronze medals. “I admit that I never expected my life to be totally changed. It was like living in darkness,” Zureki stated. “I was always afraid to talk to people or even get close to anyone in case I would make errors and people would laugh at me. Silence was my only companion in life,” Zureki admitted. “Now I am another person. I can talk freely and express myself very well. The ALPs Congress helps me exchange opinions, views and recommendations with my colleagues.” Return to main Celebrating Growth page Assmaa Ahmed is the Communications and Partnership Development Coordinator for Special Olympics Middle East/North Africa. This profile excerpted from an article that originally appeared in Spirit magazine.