Basem Algarradhi

I shut my eyes for a moment and when I opened them, the world wasn't as it was.

I'm Basem Algarradhi, a disability rights advocate and president of the organization "Zeikom Zeina."

An ambitious young man, studying veterinary medicine with dreams. My greatest passion was soccer; it gave me a sense of freedom. I had a clear future, becoming a vet who would use his knowledge to care for animals and improve their lives. Driven by ambition, never once did it occur to me that fate would entirely change my path.

Then came 2002, it took a split second to turn my life upside down. A car accident that didn't give me a chance to even process what was happening. I woke up to a new reality, lying in a hospital bed, besieged by my own helplessness and confusion.

Amidst the shock, the support of my family and friends gave me strength. But the journey towards healing intertwined with pain and hope was long and tiring. I fought hard, clinging to my desire to walk, but the reality was harsher: a permanent disability, and a wheelchair that wasn't just a tool to move but rather an extension of me, attached to me always.

My bed was my refuge, an escape from reality. Then the internet lit a path for me. I saw people like me turning their disability into a motivation to succeed. They dreamed, lived, and played sports. Seeing them I realized that I hadn't lost everything. I took a decision and signed up for a basketball team, my first step back to life.

But when I reclaimed my dream and returned to school, I hit not a physical barrier but a social one. I wasn't foiled due to my disability, but because the system didn't take account. So, along with friends, I launched the "Zeikom Zeina" campaign. Not demanding privileges, but rather our basic rights.

By 2015, "Zeikom Zeina” had become an organization carrying a long battle. We were fought with words, action, and awareness. Facing challenges, debating laws, and razed barriers steadily until our rights were secured and included in the draft constitution.

Despite these obstacles, I believe that struggle leads to victory. I dream of a Libya, where human rights are the ultimate goal and persons with disabilities' rights are fundamental. I hope my story will be a testament for hope, a force that can create a better future for us and the next generations.