The story of the visually impaired siblings - They travel 130 km to school every day

Recently, a video of two visually impaired schoolchildren caught our attention on social media. One of the schoolchildren was playing the tar, and the other was playing the piano. However, while performing music, neither of them looked at the notes; relying on their feelings, they managed to surprise both the audience and us. 

During the investigation, it was revealed that these talented children are siblings. Both are visually impaired from birth. However, this has not hindered their aspirations and goals. The siblings study with great determination, engage in music, and are eager to embrace the future. 

Aztəhsil.az reports that the Modern.az website interviewed these schoolchildren.

• Nazim Jafarov was born in 2007. He studies at Republican Special Boarding School No. 5 for Children with Health Limitations and is currently a 12th-grade student. Additionally, he is a student at Music School No. 38, where he learns to play the tar. Nazim's greatest wish is to be admitted to the Azerbaijan National Conservatory in the future and achieve greater success in his musical journey.
• Sema Jafarova was born in 2015 and is currently 10 years old. Like her brother, she is visually impaired from birth. Sema also studies at Republican Special Boarding School No. 5 for Children with Health Limitations. At the same time, she takes piano and choir lessons at Music School No. 38, developing her interest and talent in music.

Nazim's introduction to music began during his school years. After the teachers of Music School No. 38 tested his interest and ability in music, Nazim was admitted to the educational institution. Later, his sister Sema also followed in her brother's footsteps and began to receive music education.

Although both children have visual impairments, this has not prevented them from moving towards their dreams. On the contrary, the siblings strive every day with great effort to build their future. They travel daily from Qobu settlement, where they live, to Narimanov district to attend both general education classes and music lessons. Nazim and Sema, covering approximately 130 kilometers, spend a large part of their day studying, practicing, and engaging in music. 

Nazim says that every day on his way to school, he feels people looking at them strangely on the bus:

“Being visually impaired does not mean that a person should be isolated from society. Even if the eyes do not see, the brain's functions, a person's thoughts, and potential are intact. Sometimes we feel people looking at us strangely on the bus. Many people are still not accustomed to the fact that visually impaired individuals are also equal members of this society. They can also read, study, perform music, and develop themselves. Especially in the districts surrounding Baku, cases of visually impaired children being isolated from life are common. This further complicates their socialization.”

In addition to music lessons, Nazim and Sema also study subjects such as mathematics and German at school and strive to further enhance their knowledge in these areas.

Nazim says that his interest in music originated in his childhood years. He loves performing Azerbaijani mughams, especially “Bayatı-Shiraz.” He dedicates a large part of his day, approximately 15 hours, to studies and music:

“I want to be a tar teacher. In the future, after completing my higher education and earning the title of teacher, I aspire to work in Jabrayil.”

Sema, on the other hand, says she wants to pursue her future education at Karabakh University. Even if she receives her higher education in Baku, she states that she still wishes to go to Karabakh and work there.

She prefers listening to the works of foreign composers. In addition, she has already learned to both play and sing a large portion of Azerbaijani music on the piano.

We also spoke with the children's parents. Intigam Jafarov states that if fully sighted and healthy schoolchildren dedicate 2 hours to studying, for Nazim and Sema, this period is 2 times, and sometimes even 3 times longer. However, their interest in studying does not diminish; on the contrary, they continuously talk about their lessons, music, and the future:

“Our first child, Nazim, was born visually impaired. For a long time, we didn't have the heart to let him out of our sight. For approximately 6 years, we kept Nazim as if he were right before our eyes, not allowing him to move even 10 meters away. Then he reached school age. Frankly, at first, I didn't want to send him to school. Because I saw society's attitude towards visually impaired people and was worried. My wife, Sona khanim, secretly enrolled Nazim in school.

After Nazim started school, I went to school every day for the first two months. I observed how the lessons were conducted and how the teachers interacted with the children. Because it was the first time I had let Nazim out of my sight.

A few years later, Nazim told me he was receiving music education. It turned out that he had secretly enrolled first in a choir club and then in tar lessons. I saw that Nazim truly had a great talent for music. I met with his teacher, who praised Nazim highly. After that, we also began to take a closer interest in his music education.”

“Initially, we took Nazim to lessons ourselves. Later, our third child, Sema, was born, and she was also visually impaired from birth. We live outside Baku. Since I work, the main burden related to the children falls on my wife – Sona khanim's shoulders,” the father states.

Sona Jafarova, despite all difficulties, says she is ready for anything for her children's education and future:

“No matter the hardship, I will do it for my children. As long as there is life in me, I will support them.”

Intigam Jafarov emphasizes that his children are attached to life with great enthusiasm and interest:

“They want to see life sooner, to learn more. Sometimes there are things I don't know about, but they search and investigate them themselves.”

The family travels a long and tiring journey every day. There is a distance of approximately 24–25 kilometers between their home and the school. Since classes start early in the morning, the children wake up at 6 AM every day and are at school by 8 AM. As they mostly do their homework at school, their parents usually pick them up around 6 PM.

The long journey and tiring day particularly exhaust Sema quickly. Sometimes she falls asleep on the bus, and sometimes she sleeps as soon as she gets home and doesn't wake up until morning. The parents, on the other hand, travel a total of approximately 130 kilometers every day to take and pick up the children from school. Moreover, they also face traffic jams in both the morning and evening hours.

Sona Jafarova says that she had to search for a school for a long time for her children to receive an education:

“I searched for many schools. I absolutely wanted my children to receive an education. At first, I took them to regular schools, but none would accept them. Because both of them have almost no vision, not even 1 percent. The most difficult period was the first year we sent Nazim to school. That year was very tough for us. But we endured for a year and then thought that it was good that we paid attention to their education. Today, we are determined to do everything in our power for their education until the very end.”

The story of Nazim and Sema is one of the most inspiring examples of determination, talent, and great aspirations. Their life journey shows that even when a person faces obstacles, everything is possible with will and support.