At the 31st edition of the Rabat International Book Fair on May 7, an event paid tribute to three literary works as part of an initiative organized by the Alaouite Organization for the Protection of the Blind, under the leadership of Princess Lalla Lamia Essolh.

Salah Smar, the Secretary-General of the organization, stated: “We believe in encouraging and supporting creativity among visually impaired women by giving them space and a platform to express themselves.”

During the meeting, the organization honored the three winners for their literary contributions. Furthermore, the organization extended an invitation to visually impaired women from across Morocco with an interest in writing, to participate in future literary events within the country.

Najat El Houta, one of the awardees, shared an excerpt from her poem, Symphony:

قرعت التعاسة ابوابي دون تحية وسلام

قالت لي بيتك بالنسبة لي هو النعيم

“Misery knocked on my doors without greeting or peace. It told me: your home, to me, is paradise.”

Saida Amlal, a poet and zajal artist, shared her literary journey through a few lines of poetry, offering a glimpse into her experience, sensitivity, and artistic voice:

”نعم انا ضريرة فاقدة البصر ولكن كنملك أقوى البصيرة

بغيت نقول لجميع الناس راني مثلكم انسانة وكنملك إحساس "

“Yes, I am blind, deprived of sight, but I possess an even stronger insight. I want to tell everyone that I am a human being just like you.”

Atmari Fatiha, a poet, expressed her joy and excitement at the initiative. She added: “Society should change its perception of visually impaired women and accept them as capable, competent individuals in creative fields and as active citizens as well.” She also recited lines from her poem, My Country:

بلادنا كبيرة محفوظه شريفة من جد لجد

ما يهزك ريح يا بلادي ما يهمك حد يا بلادي يا نجمة مضوية الجبال

نبوس ترابك ونقبل قدام ناسك.. من طنجة لكويرة

“Our country is vast, protected, and honorable from generation to generation. No wind can shake you, my homeland. From Tangier to Lagouira, your soil remains precious.”