The woman documenting the ‘Humans of Damascus’
SYRIA - In Syria, a war is flattening eastern Aleppo. There are destroyed minarets, a burnt down 14th century souq, a number of perished neighborhoods and thousands of casualties.
In Syria, there are also bustling alleyways in the old neighborhoods of Damascus, a musician playing the oud on the pavement and, nearby, an artisan ornamenting a carved wooden table with ivory. It’s this side of the country that 31-year-old Damascus resident Rania Kataf wants to show to the world. She strolls with her camera in the streets of the Syrian capital, trying to document every inch of her city and the faces of the people who give it so much character. Inspired by the “Humans of New York” Facebook page, she set up “Humans of Damascus” to showcase a city mostly removed from the violence ravaging other parts of the country.
Every day, she posts portraits of residents in the market and adds new and old pictures of the Damascenes’ favorite shops and spots. She says it’s one way of reminding people of the city’s rich history and culture.
“I stay away from anything negative. I have a responsibility towards the people of Damascus. Many of them are not appreciated. The artisans, for example, are seen as some wooden spoon makers inside the country and potential refugees outside the country,” she told CNN over Skype.
(CNN.COM)