Determined mum graduates in Belfast after explosion forced her and family to flee Lebanon home

Beirut was home to Asmahan Saleh for 30 years. It’s the place she had chosen to start her family and in 2020, as a mother of two toddlers, it was the place she began her PhD programme with Queen’s University Belfast as a distant learner.

Things were going well for Asmahan in those first few weeks but in August 2020, a disaster unfolded in her hometown leaving her weighing up her options for what was best for her and her family.

Starting over in a new country was not easy, not least for a mother of two young children who was undertaking a PhD remotely.

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Asmahan recalled: “Two months after I started my doctorate program, the capital of Lebanon, Beirut, was struck by one of the most powerful non-nuclear explosions in history. We lost over 250 lives that day, and a whole country was left in shock and fragmentation.

“This catastrophic event left an already fragile country in deeper distress, and my family and I were forced to relocate to the United Arab Emirates. Leaving behind my beloved country, especially in its time of need, was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make.”

Still in shock from what had happened in her hometown, Asmahan remained dedicated to her PhD, finding motivation and purpose in her research: “The topic of my thesis is deeply personal and significant to me as it serves my Arab culture, and expectantly feeds into cultural awareness of applied behaviour analysis researchers and practitioners all over the world.

“I looked into behavioural strategies that target sexual health education for our most vulnerable learners — those diagnosed with autism or intellectual disabilities. A topic that is both highly sensitive and crucial, particularly within a conservative cultural context.”

Asmahan’s determination was further strengthened as she continued to keep a close eye on what was going back in Lebanon, as she describes: “Watching my country suffer, and still suffer today with an ongoing war on its soil, has filled me with doubt and exhaustion. However, it was the adversity that I watched my country face, and rise from, multiple times over its course, which strengthened my resolve.

“Hoping that my research could make a real difference in the lives of many children kept me pushing forward, no matter how difficult the journey became.”

Despite being a distant learner carrying out research a long way away from Belfast, Asmahan felt well-supported during her time at Queen’s, particularly by her PhD supervisor who she regards as having played the biggest role in her journey.

Asmahan is grateful for the unwavering support, encouragement, and guidance she received from the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s, which were instrumental in helping her overcome numerous barriers.

Thinking about what this support meant to her through the hardest of times, Asmahan reflects: “Without my supervisor’s belief in my work and continuous encouragement, I would not have completed my studies and got to enjoy this achievement.

“I also want to mention my heartfelt gratitude to the University and Centre for Behaviour Analysis for providing a nurturing and supportive environment. The resources, opportunities, and sense of community there have been invaluable in my academic journey.”

As Asmahan graduated on Wednesday, on her very first visit to Belfast, she was reminded of what she was told throughout the course of her PhD by her family: “My parents would repeatedly say to me: we don’t know how you’re going to do it, but we know that you will figure it out. This is a message I repeat to myself, to my children; and if I ever could, to my country.”

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