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Silver Scorpion Web Series Available Now on MTV Voices

May 15th, 2012 by Open Hands Team

On April 20th, the Silver Scorpion (aka Bashir Bari, otherwise referred to as “the world’s first cross-cultural superhero with disabilities”) debuted in fully animated form on MTV Voices.

Why watch this one-of a-kind web series? First, because it is the design of a group of highly talented and ambitious youth advocates with disabilities from America and Syria.  (You can read more about how they teamed up in 2010 in Damascus to create this character on our Syria page.) Second, the Silver Scorpion character embodies the values of both the Americans and Syrians, and is destined to not only bring together the youth of our two countries, but to help improve awareness about inclusion and the rights of people with disabilities worldwide.

Follow the links below to watch each episode and don’t forget to spread the word!

For those interested in reading the comic book, you can visit our Silver Scorpion page or download the English and Arabic versions directly from Scribd.

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Breaking Into the Industry: Stephanie Rice’s career since the “Covering a Revolution” Reporting Fellowship

May 7th, 2012 by Open Hands Team

The following entry is a guest post by Stephanie Rice, a top, young journalist from the United States. This post is part of the “Where Are They Now?” series, which chronicles the lives of participants who have  participated in past programs.

Here is what she had to say about her experience in Cairo as a Reporting Fellow:


What is a memorable moment from your time participating in the fellowship?

I think my most memorable moment was escaping the Marriott newsroom for a bit during Friday prayer and heading to Tahrir Square to interview regular people in the street. There was a protest happening over events in Syria, a guy shining shoes, a vendor hawking papers, an elderly sheikh trying to give a speech but being drown out in all the commotion. It was a typical Friday in the heart of Cairo, with all the hustle and bustle that makes you fall in love with the city and its people.

What did you take away from your interaction with the other Reporting Fellows?

I have so much respect for my Egyptian counterparts. They work incredibly hard and often under extremely difficult, uncomfortable circumstances. They care very deeply about their country and take their jobs seriously. I think about them a lot and hope they stay safe.

What are some of the misconceptions you had about Egyptians?

I had lived in Cairo previously, so I was somewhat familiar with the culture. I hadn’t previously connected with local reporters at the level I was able to during this fellowship, though, so that was a great opportunity that I probably wouldn’t have had otherwise. If anything, the chance to return to Cairo just reminded me how incredibly resilient and strong the Egyptian people are.

Where are you working now?

I work as a freelance journalist based in San Francisco. I also copy edit part time for California Watch at the Center for Investigative Reporting.

What kind of projects are you focusing on?

As a freelancer, every day is different. I cover everything from courts to education to politics to protests (lots of that the past few months with Occupy) to human interest and more. Over the past year, I’ve been also been spending quite a bit of time in Guatemala and Mexico and will head down there again in March to work on some freelance projects.

Overall, what kind of an impact did this fellowship have on you and your career?

The fellowship was a really unique experience that I will always be grateful for. It’s rare to find this kind of opportunity for younger journalists, and I feel very fortunate that I was selected to participate. I think for me, the most important thing that I took away was that even in today’s shaky news industry, foreign news is not dead. There are still news organizations, like GlobalPost, that are striving to bring international coverage to a U.S. audience, and while the role of the foreign correspondent may be changing, it’s not gone. It was inspiring to meet veteran foreign correspondents who love what they do and want to help a younger generation break into the industry.

Photo by: Ben Brody/GlobalPost (October 2011)

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The Silver Scorpion Becomes an Animated Series on MTV Voices

May 2nd, 2012 by Open Hands Team

The Open Hands Initiative is excited to announce that in partnership with Liquid Comics and MTV Voices it has launched an animated web series of the “Silver Scorpion” comic book.

Created in Syria by 26 American and Syrian youths with disabilities while participating in the Youth Ability Summit in 2010, the “Silver Scorpion” is the story of an Arabic boy named Bashir who loses his legs in a landmine accident and later realizes he has the superpower to bend metal with his mind. This innovative creation is the result of the collaboration between the American and Syrian youth and truly shows the power of people-to-people diplomacy. Together, the youths were able to bridge a cultural gap and promote an important message about understanding the challenges of living with a disability.

Now the “Silver Scorpion, the first ever cross-cultural superhero with a disability, is a four-part animated series offered on MTV Voices’ global websites in three languages all over Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Want a quick look? Watch the trailer or visit MTV Voices directly to watch episodes one, two and three.

The series will be further promoted by iEARN (International Education and Resource Network), who have a global reach of over 45,000 schools in 130 countries. (You can see our past work in Egypt with iEARN’s partner in Cairo, E-ERA, with whom we partnered to distribute 10,000 copies of the comic book in Arabic.)

For more information about the project please read the press release and watch the animated series.

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FacingDisability: Connecting Families after Spinal Cord Injury

April 23rd, 2012 by Open Hands Team

The Open Hands Initiative would like to introduce our new blog series that highlights various organizations who are doing inspiring work in fields that may include, but are not limited to Disability and Accessibility , Cross-Cultural Dialogue, Journalism , and Diplomacy. The featured guest bloggers come from different NGOs, nonprofits, and organizations whose goals and efforts align with our mission.

Our first guest post comes from FacingDisability.com, a web based organization that has created a platform of communication and sharing for those whose lives have been affected by spinal cord injuries (SCIs). FacingDisability.com has connected the friends and family members of people with SCIs from all over the United States, building a sense of community and understanding.

The Open Hands Initiative wrote a guest post for FacingDisability.com’s blog, which you can view here.


After a spinal cord injury occurs, families often find themselves in a very lonely place.  It can feel like no one understands their new situation or the road of recovery that lies ahead.  That is why the Hill Foundation of Chicago created FacingDisability.com, a new website designed to connect families suddenly coping with spinal cord injuries with the voices of experience.

FacingDisability.com has more than 1,000 videos drawn from interviews of over 100 people with spinal cord injuries, and their mothers, fathers, siblings, children and caregivers.  They were all asked the same set of 48 spinal cord injury questions such as, “What was your greatest fear at first?” “Where did you get the best financial help and information?” “How has the injury affected your family relationships?” and “What do you wish you had known at the beginning?”  Here’s what a few interviewees had to say.

Michelle, who became quadriplegic at 21 wished that “I would have automatically had known that I was always going to be myself. I don’t know what I thought the wheels were dramatically going to do to me, but I wish that I would have known that the things I enjoyed before, and the way I was before, was all going to be the same. I would just have to go about things in a different way.”

Darren, who became quadriplegic at age 20, said, “I wish that I knew that what other people think doesn’t matter as much.  People look at you—so you’re different or they may have to make accommodations for you to get into something.  I used to be so self conscious of that.  I wish I knew that it doesn’t matter.  I could have gotten over this a lot quicker.”

Mary Ellen, whose daughter became quadriplegic at age 15, was surprised about how normal her life has become. “To a large extent, we’re in many respects to where we were before the accident, and I never in the early years thought for a moment that we would reach that point. Certainly, we have to do things differently; family vacations are different and there are some things we can do, some things we can’t do. But we’re still able to pretty much do all the things as a family we did before. And instead of her disability being front and center, it’s become sort of a sideline.”

FacingDisability also Spinal Cord Injury Experts section, which is made up of over 200 videos of top spinal cord injury experts answering questions on their field of SCI medicine.  The topics cover information on all the things people may want to know right away, such as “Spinal Cord Injury 101,” “Basics of SCI Rehabilitation,” “Adjusting to Social Life in a Wheelchair,” “Transition from Hospital to Home” and “Sex and Fertility after SCI.”

Connecting with someone who has “been there” is one of the best ways to deal with a new injury.  FacingDisability has a “Peer Counseling” service, made for people who want to connect one-to-one through an anonymous email system.   There is also a “Forum” section where you can ask questions, or share answers.

Finally, FacingDisability.com has over 300 of the best resources on the Internet in the “Resources” section.

FacingDisability.com was established by the Hill Foundation of Chicago.  Their mission is to provide Internet-based information and support for people with spinal cord injuries and the members of their families. Connecting with the life experiences of others who have been there before often helps people find the strength and support to face their new lives ahead.  For more information, contact FacingDisability at info@FacingDisability.com.

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“The Open Hands Initiative changed my life,” an Interview with Sarah Funes

April 9th, 2012 by Open Hands Team

The following entry highlights Sarah Funes, a participant from our Youth Ability Summit. This entry is a part of our “Where Are They Now?” series. Here is what she had to say about her experience in Syria:

Sarah Funes (center in black and red) with other American and Syrian Youth Ability Summit Participants


What is a memorable moment from your time participating in the Youth Ability Summit?

My most memorable moment was being at the summit and learning from our Syrian counterparts about their lives and seeing their ideas play out in their superhero characters.

What did you take away from your interaction with the other participants?

I took away the knowledge that even half way around the world, we are all the same. We have the same dreams and the same goals.

What are you up to now?

I’m a sophomore at College of San Mateo getting ready to transfer. My dream is UC Berkeley. Since the summit I have been thriving at CSM. I’ve been an Intern at the Pineda Foundation/World Enabled and have been searching internally for what I want from life. Through this time of self-reflection I’ve discovered exactly what I want from life and what I don’t. My most recent undertaking is being a coach for a high school group of girls for a foundation called Girls for a Change.

What are your goals for the future?

My immediate goal is to transfer to UC Berkeley. I apply in the fall and find out next spring! Other goals are to write down my story with the help of my friend and continue finding opportunities for activism whether it be for the disability community or any of the communities that support human rights.

Overall, what kind of an impact did this summit have on your life?

Going to Syria changed my life. On a small scale I proved to myself that the world is round and on an epic scale I decided to double major in Political Science and International Relations. I want to learn Arabic to be fluent so I can write to my Syrian counterparts myself. I am more engaged in world affairs because of my Syrian experience. I can tell people how important comic books are. Going to Syria changed completely how I view life and how I view different cultures and means of communication between people. The Open Hands initiative changed my life! I will be forever grateful to all of the participants, the Open Hands Initiative, and the Pineda Foundation!

Learn more about the advocates who participated in the Youth Ability Summit here.

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The Silver Scorpion Extends a Hand to Egyptian Youth

March 30th, 2012 by Open Hands Team

The Open Hands Initiative has teamed up with E-Era (Egyptian Association for Educational Resources) on a project to bring the Silver Scorpion comic book to the youths of Egypt. In an effort to share the comic book with local schools and to improve awareness and understanding, the Open Hands Initiative and E-Era hosted a community event on March 24th at Cairo University.

The youth program, called Young Arab Voices, was facilitated by E-Era’s Director, Mrs. Dalia Khalil, and prompted debate and dialogue about the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Egypt. It brought together teachers, students, NGO representatives, and Ministry officials in the area of special needs to debate about disability rights. The main topic of the debate was whether or not disability rights can contribute to development, and what the best ways are to spread awareness. The Silver Scorpion comic book and accompanying teacher’s guide helped guide the discussion on solutions to raising awareness and inclusion.

This debate for youth not only highlighted disability, but served as a training tool for young people to become better public speakers, honing their debate and advocacy skills within a framework of maintaining fairness and respect for each other’s opinions.

The Open Hands Initiative provided 10,000 copies of our Silver Scorpion comic book, which features the first ever cross-cultural, disabled superhero. In addition to the program in Cairo it will now be distributed to organizations and schools all over the country including in Alexandria, Asyut, and Cairo.

E-Era was founded in 2005 and aims to promote youth development and cultural understanding through various forms of interactive and informal education. This particular debate was initiated to not only raise awareness about disability rights, but also to develop the “art of debate among youth” and to practice how to achieve fair and respectful dialogue between different parties. [i]

This project was a continuation of our goal to promote the rights of persons with disabilities; a project which began in Damascus, Syria with the Youth Ability Summit in 2011.

[i]From the E-Era website at http://egypt-era.org/

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“The single most fulfilling experience of my career,” an Interview with Kristin Deasy

March 12th, 2012 by Open Hands Team

The following is a guest post by Kristin Deasy, a top, young journalist from the United States, and is part of the “Where Are They Now?” series.

Here is what she had to say about her experience in Cairo as a Reporting Fellow:

What is a memorable moment from your time participating in the fellowship?

Samira Ibrahim, a young Egyptian woman whom myself and a small group of female fellows were in contact with over her decision to sue the authorities over a “virginity test” she said was administered to her and other women arrested at a March protest, was walking slowly across Tahrir Square, retracing her steps, recounting what had to have been intensely painful memories. She was flagged by a translator, videographer, and photographer, all fellows.

I followed behind with my fellow Egyptian colleague, Deena Adel, who, like me, was writing about Ibrahim’s case. It was a long walk, and we lagged behind, caught up in conversation — not about Ibrahim precisely, but about the greater context surrounding her case — we were discussing the problems faced by young women in today’s modern world. We were swapping stories, asking questions, comparing dating experiences. We were laughing, and sometimes we concluded that men are the same everywhere. We trusted one another; we learned from one another. This moment of openness, of spontaneous sharing, came more out of sincere affection than cultural curiosity. The Tahrir walk — framed by Samira’s compelling case and a dedicated team of female journalists aggressively covering a women’s story — remains seared in my memory. To me, it captures the spirit of the fellowship. Of course, the beauty of it was it was just one moment out of many.

What did you take away from your interaction with the other Reporting Fellows?

The biggest takeaway was the forging of new friendships. In terms of being in Cairo, the rapport with other young Egyptians and the foreigners based there gave me — and others, I’m sure — a window into the country. There were so many moments in talking with them that I felt I glimpsed a different, more real Egypt. It left me thirsting for more!

Where are you working now?

I’m currently working on various freelance projects. I’m focused on rights issues related to youth, women, and children throughout the Middle East.

Overall, what kind of an impact did this fellowship have on you and your career?

It had an enormous impact. Easily counts as the single most fulfilling experience of my career, given the incredible support and guidance we fellows received. The mentorship of Charlie Sennott, in particular, left me a better journalist and, I think, a better person for having met someone of his integrity and dedication to the craft. His go-getter attitude, his leadership, and his mentorship inspired me to dream big, to believe that my work can make a tangible difference, for the better, in the world. Right now I’m working toward precisely that end.

Photo by: Elizabeth Herman (October 2011)

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Music Exchange in Syria, Facilitated by The Open Hands Initiative

February 27th, 2012 by Open Hands Team

In 2010, the Open Hands Initiative facilitated a music exchange in Syria. Brian Unger, an American music producer, collaborated with local Syrian musicians, creating over 10 songs that are now available for your enjoyment. This exchange was meant to expose the beautiful sounds of Syrian culture to the Western world as well as boost the local amateur music scene.

The local musicians include Shafi Badreddin, Twais Quartet, MAqam, Women’s Takht, Hewar Band, and Fattet Laabet.  The artists’ music vary in style and sound, but all reflect the Syrian music scene and culture. Local music technicians and producers were also given tutorials on production techniques by Brian Unger. Through the collaboration of the musicians, producers, and ECHO Musical Cultural Association (a Syrian non-profit) the songs are now ready for an audience.

To learn more about the program and to listen to the tracks click here, or enjoy this video about the program on our YouTube Channel.

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Advocating for Disabled Youth: Melissa Lomax’s work since her participation in our Youth Ability Summit in Syria

February 13th, 2012 by Open Hands Team

The following entry is a guest post by Melissa Lomax, a participant from our Youth Ability Summit. This is part of the “Where Are They Now?” series. Here is what she had to say about her experience in Syria:

Melissa Lomax (fourth in from left) and Youth Ability Summit group (Syria, August 2010)

As a child, I dreamed about helping disabled people, and as an adolescent, I began living out that dream.  I am blind, and my hopes are to work with young, blind adults, to motivate and teach them.  I am an active member of the National Federation of the Blind, meeting blind teens frequently.  I used to assist with tutoring and independence training, but I realized that my efforts solely helped a small population located in New Jersey.  Traveling to Damascus, Syria allotted me a completely different opportunity.  Instead of working with Americans, I was working alongside counterparts varying in disabilities and culture, who in turn taught me a great deal of information.

In fact, the lessons I learned comprise the bulk of my memories.  I recorded several stories shared by my Syrian peers.  These were amazing, fun, and beautifully dressed individuals.  Some of their accounts told of overbearing families, insufficient schooling, and unclear futures.

Spending my entire life in America prevented me from ever imagining that entering high school could be prolonged.  For the deaf population in Syria, this is the case.  With only one deaf high school in Damascus, students have to wait to receive schooling.  For them, college could only live in dreams since sign language interpreters are few.  I found the stories and conversations with blind Syrians the most impactful.  Several girls asked which careers I could pursue with my vision loss; I shared various jobs which astonished them.  That was the reality check I needed.  Before coming to Syria, I often complained about some of the obstacles in my life.  Talking to these girls, however, helped me to realize that my struggles were not that bad.  I have options, resources, and even back-up plans.  They often do not.

For the first few months following my trip, I told anyone who would listen about my plans to one day change the lives of the blind population in Syria.  However, I have refined this goal since then.  The blind in America still have more improvements to fight for and there are more people in need of assistance and encouragement.  Therefore, I devote a large portion of my time to assisting in these efforts.  I am now the president of the Maryland Association of Blind Students and am a board member for the Maryland affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind.  I wish to encourage blind youth to recognize the gifts they could use to help others. That way, we could work collectively to advocate for Americans and encourage others worldwide.

Outside of advocating, I am a student.  I attend the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.  As a junior, I consider this time my mid-college crisis.  I want to do everything it seems, but I need to find the best thing.  My major is English Literature and my minors are Sociology and English Writing.  I am a member of the Golden Key International Honors Society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Presently, I am conducting undergraduate research in the English Honors Society.  My free time usually becomes filled with community service, my favorite being editing college admissions and scholarship essays for high school seniors.  Graduate school stands undoubtedly in my future, but the precise program still remains unknown.  I will either pursue a Master’s in English or Sociology, or I will study to become an orientation and mobility instructor teaching blind people how to properly use a cane.  Whichever path I choose, I know that it will have everything to do with helping others.

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JFK Jr. Harvard Forum, “Egypt: From Tahrir to Today” Co-Sponsored by Open Hands

February 6th, 2012 by Open Hands Team

On Thursday, February 2, the John F. Kennedy Jr. School of Government at Harvard University hosted the forum “Egypt: From Tahrir Square to Today,” which discussed Egypt’s progress from the beginning of the January 25 revolution until today. The Forum was co-sponsored by the Open Hands Initiative, as well as HKS Middle East Initiative, and the Shorenstein Center on the Press.

From Left: Mona ElTahawy, Tarek Masoud, and Charlie Sennott.

“Egypt: From Tahrir to Today,” featured Ms. Tina Brown, editor-in-chief of Newsweek and the Daily Beast, as the moderator. Brown posed questions to three panelists, all of whom have been writing about and/or speaking on Egypt’s path to democracy over the last year.

Mona Eltahawy, the first panelist, is a columnist for the Toronto Star, The Jerusalem Report, and Politiken. She is an authority on the Middle East and the role of women in Egypt today. The second panelist, Tarek Masoud, is the assistant professor of Public Policy at Harvard and a Middle East specialist. Finally, the third panelist, Charles Sennott is the Vice President, Executive Editor, and co-founder of the international news website Global Post.

Charles Sennott spoke about his experience watching the collaboration between the young American and Egyptian journalists that were a part of the Open Hands Initiative Reporting Fellowship. These fellows reported together on the revolution from Cairo, producing work that has been showcased in a 25-part Special Report on GlobalPost. Their work, viewed by more than 2 million visitors from across the globe, has kept readers informed about this ongoing and dramatic revolution.

The forum also covered various aspects of the Arab Spring, specifically Egypt’s revolution, including the Port Said riots, the role of social media in the revolution, the elections, and the optimism that all three panelists expressed about Egypt’s future. To quote Mona Eltahawy, who was very passionate in this panel discussion, the elections “were a mess, but they were our (the Egyptian people) mess and the next time around they will be a better mess.”

Thanks again to the Institute of Politics JFK Jr. Forum for hosting this incredible panel of journalists, professors, and editors for such an interesting discussion on Egypt’s path to democracy. If you would like to watch the forum, please go to: http://www.iop.harvard.edu/Multimedia-Center/All-Videos/Egypt-From-Tahrir-Square-to-Today/(format)/real

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