Noria was born in 22/1/1967 in Mashryia City, Algeria. She had a quiet childhood in an average family. She was their beloved active baby that filled the house with warmth and tenderness. She was raised up with great care and love. They had a good life though they had to live away from their country as her father had to leave to Algeria searching for a job. Noria studied until the 3rd grade in the Primary School when she had to stop because of her eye problem. She had an operation in her eyes in Algeria in 1976, but her family was forced to leave the country in the same day Noria had left the hospital after the expulsion of thousands of Moroccans because of the hard political circumstances between Morocco and Algeria. Her family returned to Morocco filled with anger after they have left behind their properties and belongings. All the above reasons led to the failure of her eyes surgery due to the difficult travel conditions.
The family settled in Fakeek City, in Morocco, her father's hometown. Noria lost her vision entirely in her left eye in 1978, and about 70% of vision of her right eye. She went through some medical procedures in Casablanca, but they all failed. They returned to Fakeek City and she started practicing sport, which was a great outlet for her.
Noria experienced hard days in her study, and had to stop many times because of her eyes problem as she could use around 20-30% of her sight in her right eye. However she managed to get A's all through her study from Primary school until the end of her Secondary School. In 1987, she lost her sight totally and quit school for 16 years because there weren't any schools for blind in Fakeek City.
Mr. Abduladheem Hareera, a friend of the family, insisted on her to apply for the Baccalaureate of Modern Arts. She got seriously sick so she thought of dropping the whole idea but her husband and friends kept insisting on her to go on. After recovery, Noria had determined to study hard in 3 months with the help of her friends. She was sure of her failure due to her hard circumstances, but the result was perfect; She passed. She enrolled in Hassan II University– Mohammedia, School of Law Science. She had many health relapses specially the Asthma which forced her to move again to another city. She moved to Marakesh and then to Stat City while in her last year at university. Noria received great support and encouragement from her professors as they recorded the lessons in audio tapes for her and provided her with the adequate relevant references.
Noria got married to her Solfege teacher in 1994, a blind. He played a great role in her success: he gave her all the care she used to receive from her family and changed her pessimistic view to life and fate. Because of him, her life changed for good. She is a mother of 4 kids: three sons and one daughter. With his help, she managed to obtain the highest degree in Solfege. But her greatest achievement, next to marital happiness, was going back to study. She is a perfect mother who raised her kids with tender and taught them good moralities and conducts. She is also an excellent housewife who takes good care of her family and looks after their needs.
As for the society, Noria has suffered a lot from its injustice. It never offered her any opportunities to merge appropriately in it. No authority showed any interest toward her till today despite all her achievements. There were few attempts from Media which wrote about her story such as MBC Channel who came to know about her through "Evening Star" Magazine. As for her local society, it never offered her any support though she is in deadly need for help to accomplish her educational, sport and social ambitions and also to save her family from the need and suffer caused by living circumstances. As for the people of Morocco, Noria assured that people greatly sympathize with the blind which stems from their cultural heritage and Islamic directions.
Noria has engaged in the community work since 1980s as a beneficiary from some associations in Fakeek City, and became a founder and acting member in 'Solidarity of Blind and Sighted Association' in Casablanca since late 90s. She benefited from the Association in the field of administrative management and she is grateful for them to give her the chance to enter the world of Media and learning how to use the computer.
Noria has contributed in many community work; she suggested to establish Creation Section for Sighted and Blind Media workers, she arranged the partnership between the Association and the National Cooperation Foundation "Entraide Nationale" the first social body in Morocco, she is the founder of the Project of Rehabilitating Blind Girls in the field of Cooking Arts, she is Braille Solfege Section's Supervisor in the Association. She has many projects like: Free Transport for Blind, Swimming Classes for Blind, Audio Library to help Blind students. Noria has participated in a number of demonstrations and awareness campaign, taught Solfege, supervised Cooking and Home Upbringing Workshops for Blind voluntarily in the Association.
Noria has many achievements such as winning the first prize of The First Jahawai Festival of Moroccan Cooking Arts and Pastries organized by National Initiatives Association for the Cultural and Social Animation in March, 2006. She won the first medal in Solfege. As for the sport, she is a Technical Black Belt in Karate since 1989. She was also nominated in 1989 and 2008 to participate in the National Championship of War Arts.
Noria hopes to apply for the Law Exam or the Legal Advisory after she graduates from the Law College. She wishes to be a Law Professor in Morocco or in any other Arab country. She wishes to visit the Arab countries, to win national and international sport championships, and to carry on her Piano studies which she was forced to stop because she doesn't have her own piano. She also wishes to learn English and French and to be able one day to write her life story.
Noria loves music especially the piano, karate, cooking, preparing sweets and pastries, Chinese porcelain and ceramics, taking care of infants and elderly. She is obsessed with hygiene and arranging her house and clothes. She's perfect in ironing, sewing and tricot and can easily enter the string in the needle without others' help. Finally, she practiced business for three years.
Noria uses the computer and depends on JAWS software. She has learned Braille and uses it in teaching Solfege. She uses white cane.
Noria Finally says:
"Blind in particular and people with disabilities in general, are lost in my country and suffer a lot from the prison of their disabilities and the cruelty of their societies. I managed to compel myself and found a way to make people know about me through studying and sport challenge, but there are thousands who hadn't got the chance though they're distinguished and productive. I hope governments and concerned authorities would pay more attention to those marginalized people as they might be more useful and more productive than millions of normal people."
To contact Noria: oum.nassim@yahoo.fr
Noria recommends you to visit the following websites: