Recently, a video of two visually impaired schoolchildren caught our attention on social media. One of the schoolchildren was playing the tar, and the other was playing the piano. However, while performing music, neither of them looked at the notes; relying on their feelings, they managed to surprise both the audience and us.
During the investigation, it was revealed that these talented children are siblings. Both are visually impaired from birth. However, this has not hindered their dreams and goals. The siblings study with great determination, engage in music, and are eager to see their future.
The **Modern.az** website interviewed these schoolchildren.
**Nazim Jafarov** was born in 2007. He studies at the Republican Special Boarding School No. 5 for Children with Health Disabilities and is currently a 12th-grade student. Additionally, he is a student at Music School No. 38, where he learns to play the tar. Nazim's biggest dream is to be admitted to the Azerbaijan National Conservatory in the future and achieve greater success in his musical career.
**Sema Jafarova** was born in 2015 and is currently 10 years old. Like her brother, she is visually impaired from birth. Sema also studies at the Republican Special Boarding School No. 5 for Children with Health Disabilities. At the same time, she takes piano and choir lessons at Music School No. 38, developing her interest and talent in music.
Nazim's introduction to music began during his school years. After the teachers of Music School No. 38 tested his interest and ability in music, Nazim was admitted to the educational institution. Later, his sister Sema also followed in her brother's footsteps and began to receive music education.
Although both children have visual impairments, this has not prevented them from pursuing their dreams. On the contrary, the siblings strive every day with great effort to build their future. They travel daily from their hometown of Gobu to Narimanov district to attend both general education classes and music lessons. Nazim and Sema, covering approximately 130 kilometers, spend a large part of their day studying, practicing, and engaging in music.
Nazim says that every day on his way to school, he feels people on the bus looking at them strangely:
“Being visually impaired does not mean that a person should be isolated from society. Even if the eyes do not see, the brain's functions, a person's thoughts, and potential are intact. Sometimes we feel people looking at us strangely on the bus. Many people are still not accustomed to the idea that visually impaired individuals are also equal members of this society. They can study, receive education, perform music, and develop themselves. Especially in the districts surrounding Baku, cases of visually impaired children being isolated from life are common. This further complicates their socialization.”
In addition to music lessons, Nazim and Sema also study subjects such as mathematics and German at school and strive to further enhance their knowledge in these areas.
Nazim says that his interest in music developed in his childhood years. He loves performing Azerbaijani mughams, especially “Bayaty-Shiraz.” He dedicates a large part of his day, approximately 15 hours, to lessons and music:
“I want to be a tar teacher. In the future, after completing my higher education and earning the title of teacher, I aspire to work in Jabrayil.”
Sema, on the other hand, says she wants to pursue her future education at Karabakh University. Even if she receives her higher education in Baku, she states that she still wishes to go to Karabakh and work there.
She prefers listening to the works of foreign composers. In addition, she has already learned to both play and sing a large portion of Azerbaijani music on the piano.
We also spoke with the children's parents. Intigam Jafarov states that if fully sighted and healthy schoolchildren spend 2 hours studying, for Nazim and Sema, this period is 2 times, and sometimes even 3 times longer. However, their interest in studying never diminishes; on the contrary, they constantly talk about their lessons, music, and future:
“Our first child, Nazim, was born visually impaired. For a long time, we couldn't bring ourselves to let him out of our sight. For approximately 6 years, we kept Nazim as if he were right before our eyes, not allowing him to move even 10 meters away. Then he reached school age. Frankly, at first, I didn't want to send him to school. Because I saw society's attitude towards visually impaired people and was worried. My wife, Mrs. Sona, secretly enrolled Nazim in school.
After Nazim started school, for the first two months, I went to school every day. I observed how the lessons were conducted and how the teachers worked with the children. Because it was the first time I had let Nazim out of my sight.
A few years later, Nazim told me he was receiving music education. It turned out that he had secretly enrolled in a choir club first, and then in tar lessons. I saw that Nazim truly had a great talent for music. I met with his teacher, who also praised Nazim highly. After that, we began to take a closer interest in his music education.”
“Initially, we took Nazim to lessons ourselves. Later, our third child, Sema, was born, and she was also visually impaired from birth. We live outside Baku. Since I work, the main burden related to the children falls on my wife, Mrs. Sona,” says the father.
Sona Jafarova, despite all difficulties, says she is ready for anything for her children's education and future:
“Whatever the hardship, I will do it for my children. As long as there is life in me, I will support them.”
Intigam Jafarov emphasizes that his children are deeply connected to life with great enthusiasm and interest:
“They want to see life sooner, to learn more. Sometimes things happen that I'm unaware of, but they search and investigate themselves.”
The family travels a long and tiring journey every day. There is approximately a 24–25 kilometer distance between their home and the school. Since classes start early in the morning, the children wake up at 6 AM every day and are at school by 8 AM. As they mostly do their homework at school, their parents usually pick them up around 6 PM.
The long journey and tiring day particularly exhaust Sema quickly. Sometimes she falls asleep on the bus, and sometimes she sleeps as soon as she gets home and doesn't wake up until morning. The parents, however, travel approximately 130 kilometers in total every day to take and bring the children to school. Moreover, they also face traffic jams in both the morning and evening hours.
Sona Jafarova says that she had to search for a school for a long time for her children to receive an education:
“I searched for many schools. I absolutely wanted my children to receive an education. At first, I took them to regular schools, but none would accept them. Because both of them have almost no vision, not even 1 percent. The most difficult period was the first year we sent Nazim to school. That year was very tough for us. But we endured for a year and then thought, it's good that we paid attention to their education. Today, we are still determined to do everything we can for their education until the very end.”
The story of Nazim and Sema is one of the most inspiring examples of perseverance, talent, and great dreams. Their life journey shows that even when faced with obstacles, everything is possible with will and support.
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