Georgette and Naim A Journey of Love Faith and Enduring Educational Light

 Georgette and Naim A Journey of Love Faith and Enduring Educational Light

(Testimony of Teacher : Georgette Gebrail )

Written by : Milad Korkis 

Project Owner : Memora 360 - English 

Life sometimes is not limited to dates and events; it gifts us with immortal stories, whose details merge the values of steadfast love, unwavering persistence, and dedication that illuminate the paths of generations. There are stories that transcend time and space to become a beacon for anyone seeking to understand the significance of faith in a mission, the meaning of deep love, and the importance of patience in the face of daily challenges.

The story of Teacher Georgette Gebrail and her late husband, Teacher Naim Saliba, is not merely a biography but a journey full of inspiration. It teaches us that a person can leave an everlasting mark by dedicating their life to serving others, sowing knowledge, love, and values across countless generations. Every moment of their lives conveys a lesson about balancing love and work, adhering to principles while remaining flexible in the face of difficulties, making their life a living example that the educational mission extends beyond books and classrooms to become a legacy that endures through time.

Georgette was born in 1960 in the Qabrī Ḥīwrī district (Al-Qaḥṭāniyyah) in the al-Hasakah Governorate, into a deeply devout Syriac-Christian family of eight children, where she was the youngest. She grew up between the walls of her home and the church under the guidance of her father, an evangelical deacon who had studied at the Mor Gabriel Monastery in Tur Abdin, in southern Turkey.

He instilled in her a love for the church, the Syriac language, and knowledge, and he contributed to building the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary and acquiring its bell. Her mother was a diligent and hardworking woman who instilled in her children a love for labor and perseverance, making the home a place of care, seriousness, and tenderness.

Thus, Georgette acquired a solid value system of faith, work, honesty, and simplicity. Every day of her childhood was an opportunity to observe these values in practice, and she learned that balancing work and spirituality, seriousness and tenderness, forms the foundation of a strong and integral personality.

Teacher Georgette describes her youth as very balanced and very shy, to the point that she had no friends. She spent this period reading stories, writing poems and reflections, and had a talent for drawing what she saw. Despite difficult circumstances, Georgette fought for her education; she loved learning, although her mother prioritized work. Although she initially wanted to study law, circumstances led her to the Teacher’s Seminary (Dar al-Mu'allimin), where she specialized in teaching special classes.

Georgette adds to the values she inherited from her environment: love for the church, love for ancestral history, love for the Syriac language, and love for others. These values became the foundation of her personality, later enriched by the values of her husband: modesty, humility, constant effort in life without fatigue or boredom, and helping others. Their shared life thus merged into an integrated value system, weaving the threads of love, faith, and work into the foundation of their home and generations.

In the city of Dêrik (Al-Malikiyah), Naim Saliba was born in 1956 into a financially modest but morally and spiritually rich Syriac family of nine: four sons, three daughters, and two parents. A spirit that valued knowledge and learning was nurtured in this household, enabling the children to continue their education and achieve various degrees despite challenging circumstances.

The late Behnan Saliba became an English teacher.

The late Naim Saliba also graduated from the Teacher’s Seminary.

The late Shamoun Saliba worked as a postman.

Fahima Saliba became a classroom teacher.

During his childhood, Naim helped his father sell fruits and vegetables due to his father’s occupation. In his youth, he also excelled in sports, particularly volleyball, earning the nickname “Abu Talea” from his friends.

Naim was intelligent and diligent in his studies, learning early that discipline and hard work were the keys to success. Although the region was largely agricultural and craft-oriented, he set his sights on a teaching career after graduating from the Teacher’s Seminary. He saw this not merely as a profession but as a mission and moral duty, committed to spreading culture and knowledge across generations and actively contributing to his community’s intellectual and cultural movement.

Teacher Georgette recounted that a beautiful twist of fate brought her first meeting with the late Teacher Naim Saliba. From this encounter blossomed a love that culminated in a marriage lasting 39 years, filled with love, tenderness, collaboration, and hard work, which sowed the seeds of determination in them and strengthened their mutual will to persevere.

After graduating as a special-classes teacher, Georgette, motivated by her love for children, felt confident in the educational field and viewed her pedagogical mission fundamentally as a humanitarian message, delivered to all she taught with sincerity and dedication. Professor Naim taught at several schools after completing his military service.

While in Dêrik (Al-Malikiyah), Georgette would walk to the nearby village of Tel al-Sidq, where she was the sole teacher at the time. Later, she relocated and continued teaching at several schools in different villages, including Tel Asfar and Talayn. During her pregnancy, she commuted by bus and never hesitated to fulfill her educational mission.

The couple continued their teaching careers together. She taught in the villages of Tel Asfar, Tel Sidq, Talayn, and others. Meanwhile, Professor Naim taught at multiple schools, including the Martyr Rifaat Al-Haj-Seri School, where Georgette later joined him. They taught there for five years under the leadership of Professor and literatus Tuma Bitar and later under Professor Gaby Afram, who became an educational advisor.

In their early married years, the couple lived with Naim’s family in a small home, where their life was filled with love, tenderness, and mutual respect. Later, they moved into their own home, continuing their roles as educators. Learning and teaching moments interwove with daily life, from shared meals to school activities, from home learning to daily life advice.

During their professional careers, Naim alternated teaching shifts with Georgette; he worked mornings while she stayed home with the children, and after his return, she went to school while he stayed with the children.

Over the years, Georgette moved to several schools, including Sukaina Bint Al-Hussein School, where she proposed establishing a kindergarten to facilitate child-rearing and care for teachers’ children while they fulfilled their educational duties. This reflected her effort to connect formal education with practical family needs, believing that education extends beyond books to daily life, communication skills, and human values.

Regarding the qualities that strengthened their relationship, Georgette mentioned: cooperation, sincerity, trust, persistence, love, tenderness, and dedication without complaint. These values were mirrored in their family and educational life, allowing them to support each other in teaching, making the family a living model for commitment to values and giving education a deeply human dimension.

Regarding migration to Sweden, Georgette described their decision as a risky and adventurous step. What began as a brief visit turned into a fateful decision to leave their homeland and start anew in a foreign country despite all uncertainties.

During the first five years in Sweden, Georgette faced very difficult circumstances before obtaining residency. Despite language barriers, she was forced to work while the children learned Swedish and attended school. After obtaining residency, a new life began: Georgette continued teaching Swedish to children in early grades, validated her Syrian credentials, and preserved her mother tongue. She emphasized the importance of language learning and societal integration for every migrant, setting an example for new generations that willpower and knowledge pave the way to success.

During migration, the children assisted their mother in adapting and quickly learned Swedish. They helped with translation and communication with the new society. Georgette took pride in her ability to face challenges independently, giving each step of migration deeper meaning and turning every difficulty into a lesson in self-reliance.

Ninwa (Worod), the eldest daughter, supported her mother from the beginning, learned the basics of Swedish, completed her education, graduated high school, and married at twenty-one. She later studied history but became a classroom teacher, continuing her mother’s path in education and preserving the family values of respect, dedication, and ongoing work. Ninwa exemplified daily persistence, teaching children in her small home center before transitioning to formal education, combining historical study with practical experience, and serving as a living model for continuity of educational heritage across generations.

Gabriel (Talea), the eldest son, demonstrated excellence from a young age. Starting from scratch, he believed in himself and shaped his future with confidence. He assisted his mother with daily formalities during migration and became an example of independence and perseverance, continuing his parents’ legacy of diligence and dedication to building the family’s future. He later worked in administration and planning, applying teamwork values, supporting his sisters, and participating in social activities that united the Syriac community in Sweden.

Gabriella, the twin sister, grew up with the same family values and completed her university studies as an occupational therapist. She became a model of academic excellence and personal dedication, drawing inspiration from her mother and father’s determination and continuous effort. Gabriella taught and led cultural initiatives, bridging the Syriac community with Swedish society, preserving language and heritage, and instilling in students the love of human values alongside knowledge.

Maria, the other twin, studied sociology in the psychological departments and followed the family approach of dedication and values, maintaining a spirit of cooperation and solidarity. She exemplified the ability to combine education and human values, collaborating with charities, supporting orphans and newly arrived families, and focusing on informal education and social activities.

Georgette confirms that the children’s success would not have been complete without the values the couple sought to instill from a young age: love, care, mutual respect, love for the church, love for prayer, love for others, love of work, and tolerance toward others. These values formed the foundation of their personal, educational, and professional lives, allowing the children to continue their parents’ path with love and sincerity.

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Georgette’s Message to Teachers:

“Education is a humanitarian message before it is a profession, through which generations are built and love, knowledge, and values are sown. The life of a teacher is full of challenges, but it gives a profound sense of shared mission, investing every effort in the future of students and the community.

Strive to love your students, respect them, and teach them values alongside knowledge, for both together shape a good person and carry forward the message of education and knowledge. Every effort you make bears fruit in planting hope and knowledge, leaving an everlasting mark on the souls you have taught.”

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Summary of Their Long Life:

“Patience, perseverance, independence, and continuing despite difficulties are the keys to life. Learn the language of your new country when migrating, integrate into society, and continue your work with love and dedication.

Do not despair, no matter how difficult circumstances are, for the life of education and patience in the face of challenges gives you the ability to build your children’s future and fulfill your humanitarian mission. Every step, no matter how small, contributes to building good people and an enlightened society.”

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A Personal Message from Owner of Memora 360

Milad Korkis :

“Georgette and Naim, your story is the torch we need in our time. It is a shining example of dedication and a partnership founded on deep love in education and life.

Your life journey teaches us that every challenge holds value, and that sincere willpower, coupled with belief in the mission and collaborative work, can make a difference in the lives of family and society.

You are more than teachers; you are a beacon illuminating the paths of generations, reminding every reader that love and work together create an enduring legacy.

Your legacy is not only memories or events, but a true school of patience, perseverance, and faith in human values.

For every teacher and every family, you are a living example that sincerity in education and commitment to humanity can change reality and leave an indelible mark on the souls, which remains alive regardless of time.”

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The journey of Georgette and Naim is not merely a life story but a living lesson in perseverance in education, commitment to values, and the ability to turn challenges into opportunities.

They teach us that dedication in upbringing, engagement with family and community, and the ability to have patience and faith make a real difference in the lives of future generations, leaving an indelible mark on collective memory.

Every step in their life and every challenge they overcame reminds us that true legacy is measured not by material possessions but by love, values, and continuous work that plants the future. This story, with all its details, is a source of inspiration for every teacher and person striving to be a guide for generations, ensuring that the message of education and humanity remains alive, vibrant, and renewed with each generation.

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