2002 Al-Ataa Award Recipients

Omar Hamdi (Malva)

Born in 1951 in Al-Hasaka, Syria, Omar worked as a graphic artist for the Syrian Press, where he also wrote artistic criticism articles. He moved to Vienna in 1978 and now holds Austrian nationality.

Omar is a member of the General Federation of Austrian Artists, UNESCO and the Kinstlerhaus-Wien. His works of art are exhibited in several art galleries, including Wally Findley Galleries in New York, which acts as a representative of his work.

His paintings are acquired by art collectors and dealers, art galleries and exhibitions, museums, banks and Ministries of Culture in America, Canada, Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Holland, Japan, Sri Lanka, Russia and elsewhere.

Many of his works have been printed on postcards and posters by several publishing houses and are being distributed in numerous countries worldwide. His life is devoted to full-time artistic work.

Sawsan Abdin Kosi

Dr. Sawsan Abdin Kosi wasn’t the sort of woman who actively sought credit. Rather she was content seeing her work – her hard work – speak for itself.

Now mention her name and you immediately envision her remarkable career dancing to life. This single-minded woman built the Southern California chapter of SAWA "brick by brick, through dedication and pure grit," as many said in their heartfelt prayers last year at her memorial service.

No, deafness is not cured; not even close. Yes, every day some 20 percent of the world’s people must cope a hearing problem. However, the world the SAWA children face is phenomenally different from what others in the same position face. These children’s families barely have enough money to put food on the table, much less take their child to a hearing specialist. This situation drove Sawsan to make a difference.

Her passion required courage. And courage follows the birth and development of a regional movement to defeat deafness. SAWA of Southern California was established after assiduous personal lobbying by Sawsan. She never had to wonder if her countless hours on the phones, active fundraising or negotiations with the top hospitals, doctors and medical technology was making a difference in the world. The children would be all the reward she needed. Seeing a parents' faces as their child heard his/her own name for the first time was overwhelming. "Seeing the children hear their own voice is always the most exciting thing in my life," she said at the first SAWA gala in December 2003.

In the end she lost her life to cancer of the brain, but she did not lose her spirit. Her energy and vivaciousness for life ultimately led to her passing last September. It is her inspiration that has changed so many lives.