Testimonial From Mariem Arfaoui in algerian desert
AUTISM 2024 KM
Mariem’s Testimonial for her trip during december 2023
Testimony from Mariem Arfaoui, who participated in the final stretch of this wonderful challenge with the children and parents.
After a week in the Algerian desert, I want to share this wonderful experience and extraordinary journey, successful in every aspect thanks to the perfect organization and perfectionism of Laïd, as well as the cohesion and professionalism of the Touareg team led by Moussa, the calm strength.
The landscapes, extraordinary, begin to unfold and dazzle you! It took me 2 to 3 days to realize that I was not living a dream, that everything happening around me was very real, and that I needed to cherish every moment, every shared moment, the calm, and the serenity that prevailed around me.
I took part in hikes led by the great Moussa, THE Touareg hiker. Walking in the desert is a first for me.
Laïd introduced us to Tai Chi, and Sam initiated us into boxing; these moments respectively brought us beautiful energy and excellent release. I can never thank them enough for everything they brought to the group.
The 2023 edition brought a new feature: hikers had the opportunity to share the stay with two families with autistic children and non-hikers. This benevolence, empathy, and support for families. The presence of Adam and Ismail in the group enlightened us about the cause of autistic children, the impact of this uniqueness on their daily lives and on the lives of their families, especially their parents. Both children and parents fight every day to have the right to a « normal » life without prejudice, without judgments, and without suffering from the looks and words of insensitive or ignorant people about this handicap that they did not choose to bear.
I admire the parents of autistic children, their courage, perseverance, and resilience. The fight must continue to have the help, esteem, and recognition of the rights of every child, regardless of the uniqueness they carry, to all activities, travel, and fulfillment. The heart melts in the face of so much sensitivity, intelligence, and incredible generosity of these sincere and unfiltered children.
I return to the journey that I certainly cannot describe in a few lines, and I already congratulate the next travelers for choosing to discover the Algerian desert with Laïd and Moussa!
Penultimate point, the cooks who will accompany you will delight you with healthy, varied, and enticing food!
I conclude my testimony with the solidarity actions accompanying this journey, which will give meaning and make you feel useful during this stay. Providing assistance to nomads as well as the pediatric psychiatric center in Djanet is the icing on the cake. Seeing the smiles and laughter in the eyes of the children is an invaluable gift that will fill you with happiness and bring joy and comfort.
« We are never happy except in the happiness we give. » Quote from Abbé Pierre.
Cécile