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This stance has put him and his family in danger, and last September – after the battle for control of the city began in earnest – Ahmed left Aleppo, which is how he ended up living as a refugee in Turkey. When he left, he took only one suitcase of clothes, in it only suits. He told me, “It was summertime and I didn’t have time to get my winter clothes – my suits were already in a suitcase, packed up with my passport certificates.” Ahmed spent nearly five months wearing only those suits, the smartest dressed refugee in the province.
A screenshot of the Tena design, demonstrating how arms will guide sniper victims inside to safety.
Ahmed recently managed to get his family to the safety of Turkey, too, and they brought him more clothes and a sense of relief that’s entirely visible as soon as he starts talking about them.
Now his family are safe, Ahmed’s focus is set on making the Tena working prototype, which can be used in the field but will also prove she works for her intended purpose. Once her purpose has been proven, Ahmed hopes aid agencies will find the design useful and seek to roll out wider production – his robot hopefully saving lives in Syria and in other conflicts in the future.
Ahmed’s sense of purpose is palpable. He wants to leave Turkey and Syria and get on with his life, but he can’t until he’s built Tena. And while one aid agency has said they will consider helping to fund the project once they see a prototype Tena on the ground, the only thing standing in Ahmed’s way are the funds to build that initial prototype.
But Ahmed is optimistic. And after Tena? His dream, eventually, is to live in Canada. “I’m supposed to be with the woman I love there, so wish me luck.”
Follow Emma and Ben on Twitter: @ejbeals / @btvox
More stuff from Syria:
Sectarian Tensions Build in Northern Syria
I Left My Family for the Free Syrian Army
Not All Syrians Side with the Rebels
Watch – Ground Zero: Syria