A discussion session titled “No to Bullying… No to Abuse”

Under the patronage and presence of Dr. Sameera Naji Khdim, the Dean of the College of Science for Women, the Psychological Counseling and Educational Guidance Unit, in coordination with Dr. Jowan Khaled Hammoud, the head of the unit, and in collaboration with the “Iraqi Huna” team, organized a discussion session titled “No to Bullying… No to Abuse” on Tuesday, March 25th, with the attendance of Dr. Adel Hussein Taleb, the Administrative and Financial Assistant, along with several heads of departments and units, as well as faculty and students of the college.
The session was presented by Engineer Shaima Behzad Ramadan, the leader of the “Iraqi Huna” team, who outlined the team’s objectives to support young talents and overcome the challenges faced by people with special needs. Following that, activist Shaima Ghassan Al-Hashemi, founder of the “Exceptional People for Those with Special Needs” organization, shared her personal experience as a mother of two blind children with autism, discussing the challenges she faced and how she was able to overcome them and transform them into a source of strength. Her story contributed to motivating her children, building their self-confidence, and developing their abilities to achieve their dreams.
Activist Janan Abdul Karim Mahmoud, leader of the “Breathe” team for overcoming stuttering, also shared her journey with stuttering, explaining how she was able to control and overcome it. Today, she is a skilled speaker and a specialized trainer in this field, helping others who face similar challenges.
Furthermore, the media personality and human rights activist Haider Abdul Jalil Karim, known as “Haider Al-Basir,” shared his personal experience of being blind from birth. He emphasized that true sight lies in the mind, not the eyes, and how he relies on all his senses to navigate his environment and adapt to his reality. He stressed the importance of building self-confidence, confronting bullying, and raising community awareness about its dangers, which resonated with and engaged the audience.
The session also included the screening of documentary films highlighting the challenges faced by people with special needs, including the blind, deaf, mute, and those with Down syndrome. These films showcased success stories of individuals who achieved remarkable accomplishments due to their determination and persistence, along with the support of their families and the “Exceptional People for Those with Special Needs” organization, which helped enhance their self-confidence and turned bullying from a weakness into a source of inspiration and strength. Among these inspiring stories was that of a talented child in singing and creativity despite losing his sight, and a person who completed their education despite suffering from stuttering and bullying by peers, as well as many other stories reflecting noble principles such as self-confidence, acceptance of others, and the continuous pursuit of self-development.
The event also featured an art exhibition of handicrafts, paintings, and inventions created by children and young people with special needs, highlighting their passion and creativity. It emphasized that excellence is not a coincidence but rather the result of perseverance, determination, and the continuous pursuit of success.
At the conclusion of the session, Dr. Jowan Khaled, head of the Psychological Counseling and Educational Guidance Unit, along with the college students, distributed motivational messages filled with affection, pride, and encouragement to the special needs heroes, alongside symbolic gifts.This initiative aimed to bring joy to their hearts, offer moral support, strengthen the message of their acceptance in society, and emphasize the importance of rejecting bullying, allowing them to live in peace, feel confident and stable, which contributes to sustaining their creativity and brilliance.