国际英语资讯: Feature: Syrian potter strives to keep craft alive amid war_时事

国际英语资讯: Feature: Syrian potter strives to keep craft alive amid war

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HOMS, Syria, June 22 -- After the war in the Syrian northern city of Aleppo broke out, Zakaraia Qarkoush, carrying his pottery craft, escaped to the central city of Homs.

Ahead of the war, there were 13 pottery factories in Aleppo. However, the raging war has destroyed the factories and displaced the people.

Qarkoush, who inherited pottery craft from his father and grandfather, sought refuge in Homs, where the situation was relatively safer.

The passion for the craft that Qarkoush developed as a boy is the source of his survival because he wants to keep doing what he loves.

"We have inherited this job from our grandfathers and I have been working for 35 years," he said.

According to the 43-year-old craftsman, he left Aleppo with his children seven years ago and settled in the Ashirah area where the children started to learn and help him in his pottery work.

It took him two years in Homs to ponder over what to do before he finally realized that his original job was the only thing he really wanted to take.

"When the crisis erupted in Aleppo, we got displaced and came to Homs. I didn't want to leave this job because I love it so I worked in pottery in Homs with my children," he explained.

The man started making small pottery in a small workshop before his business got bigger.

In his current workshop, Qarkoush has a room for making the clay into different shapes such as vessels, water pots as well as artistic waterfalls which people buy to be displayed in their salons or the living room.