By Kati Woronka
Maha and Leila have been friends for years, but they have not seen each
other since they studied together at University of Damascus five years
ago. As the war in Syria encroaches on their lives, and the lives of
their families, they find solace in rekindling friendships from happier
times. Together, they care for their own families while looking for ways
to do more, sending food and clothing to families in Damascus who have
lost their homes, then developing a global advocacy campaign for
non-combatants who have been captured.
Mourning Sham is a tale of
hope and renewed friendship in a context of war, conflict and drastic
social change. It explores the role of women in political revolution and
the growing role of technology in organizing and activism. Women around
the world struggle to balance their duty to family and self, with their
aspirations to serve their communities. Maha and Leila do the same, but
in a context where the stakes are particularly high.