inspiring success story of woman who turned her recycling hobby into unique works of art

Aziza Sheikhmous Asaad, a native of Amuda, has possessed a talent since childhood that enables her to transform old and discarded objects into artistic pieces that reflect her creativity and the beauty of her ideas.

Aziza began her creative journey during childhood, when her passion for handicrafts accompanied her throughout her school years and on every occasion at home. Although circumstances prevented her from completing her university education, this did not stand in the way of her ambition to become self-reliant.

Aziza creates a wide range of artistic pieces and handicrafts that combine beauty, innovation, and the practical use of available materials. She transforms simple, used objects into distinctive artistic products. Among her creations are decorative candle holders, ornamented vessels, and kitchen utensils, in addition to pieces designed to decorate mirrors and add an aesthetic touch to home décor.

Aziza relies on recycling canned containers and materials that may appear to be unusable, giving them a new life by shaping and decorating them in innovative ways.

She also makes use of wooden sticks and pistachio shells to create flowers and decorative sculptures. She carefully collects these elements and reshapes them into flowers and artistic pieces that add a distinctive character to her products.

The importance of these works extends beyond their aesthetic value. They also reflect an awareness of the importance of recycling and environmental preservation by transforming waste and used materials into useful and beautiful artworks.

The artisan Aziza sums up her journey, which has been filled with challenges, saying: “My passion for handicrafts developed during my school years and was present in every detail of my life. Because we were stripped of Syrian citizenship, I was unable to complete my university education. However, I insisted on becoming self-reliant as a hardworking woman. I combined earning my livelihood as a hairdresser with my particular passion for shaping old wood and bringing it back to life in the form of innovative natural pieces.”

Aziza added: “I never thought about selling what my hands create, because passion cannot be valued in money. However, the admiration of the salon’s customers and their repeated requests to purchase my work opened a door for me that I had never planned for. My ambition then led me to the ‘Small Dreams’ organization, which brought my work into the public eye through its exhibitions, and enabled me to see my talent from a broader perspective and try to develop it further.”

In the same context, Aziza noted that her participation in exhibitions is not primarily motivated by financial gain, but rather by a desire to engage with the community and learn from the experiences of the inspiring women around her.

She pointed out that she suffers from a shortage of artistic materials, but seeing the joy in the eyes of those who acquire her work fills her with determination and inspires her to continue developing her talent. Aziza hopes to one day have her own shop where she can bring together all of her creations.

Aziza concluded her remarks by addressing a message to women, saying: “A woman should never give up on her talent, no matter what challenges she faces. Self-affirmation and continuous learning are the true sources of strength, and they are what inspire happiness and optimism.

ANHA