The story that inspired the campaign "ma3ak"

Grief is one of the most universal human experiences, yet so many of us feel helpless when someone we love is going through it, or even when we do. I used to be one of those people when I lost my grandmother a year ago, grieving and trying to support my younger sister who’s going through an even harder time because she was the closest to her. Confused about how to get through to her, I watched her fall into silence, until the presence of her friends began to show up and help in ways that made a difference and inspired me to personally heal, help and raise awareness through this campaign.

Understanding my sister

Grief doesn’t look the same for everyone. After we lost our grandmother, I noticed that my sister took it much harder than I did. Their bond was deep, full of shared stories, inside jokes, and emotional connection. 

At first, I didn’t know how to react. I wanted to help her, but I didn't know how. I hesitated, not wanting to say the wrong thing .I remember seeing her stay in bed all day, barely speaking. She’d scroll through her phone or just stare at the ceiling. Then meals were skipped, text messages went unread, and conversations were mostly one-sided. I thought maybe she just needed space or time, but time alone wasn’t healing her.

Understanding myself

I noticed myself struggling too. Not just with grief, but also with guilt. I kept wondering: Should I be doing something? Should I say something? But what if I made it worse? What if she didn’t want me to bring it up? Shouldn’t I be like her too? Why aren’t I as sad? I was caught between the fear of doing the wrong thing and the paralysis of doing nothing at all.I was overwhelmed with my emotions towards the loss I'm suffering too. There are so many emotions in the room that I don't know how to deal with them.

That’s when her best friend stepped in and everything began to change.

The Phases of grief and support

1- Quiet presence

Then her friend showed up. Not with big speeches or motivational talks but simply with calm, quiet and loving presence. She sat with my sister, listened, made her tea, sent check-in messages, and that quiet consistency started to matter more than words. My sister slowly started to talk. Not all at once, but a few sentences started showing. It was the beginning of something powerful: feeling safe enough to be sad and to be themselves and express their emotions, something I couldn't understand because I thought her emotions would be just like mine, turns out they're not, which led to the release of her emotions.

11- Emotional release

For the first time in weeks, I heard my sister crying. Her friend held space for it without trying to fix it, she just hugged her and assured her that her feelings are valid and that she is loved and safe. After that, my sister started sharing memories of Grandma instead of avoiding them. She laughed through the tears, she started journaling and going for short walks. Her friend invited her out for coffee or a walk, nothing overwhelming, just small steps back into the world. I began to see pieces of my sister return. Not the same as before, but growing again. And it wasn’t because someone gave her the “right words” but because someone stayed.

111-Reconnection with daily life

Slowly, my sister began to reconnect, not just with the world around her but with herself. Short conversations with friends and family became longer, walks became runs, and she even got back to playing sports and caught up with all her school work. Her friend continued to be there, helping her return to routines without pushing too hard. They started cooking together, something my sister used to do with Grandma. It was emotional at first, but gradually became a way of honoring her memory instead of avoiding it.

1v- What's next?

This phase wasn’t about “moving on” or forgetting. It was about learning how to live again while carrying the memory of our grandmother in a new way. It was about rediscovering joy without guilt and finding meaning in everyday moments. I saw how much of this growth came not from being told what to do, but from being supported as we figure out ourselves with our loved ones by our side and how the people around you can influence you, so i learned to be a good influence instead of the confused and helpless one I was at first.

Connect with our campaign

If you’ve ever felt helpless while someone you care about was grieving, you’re not alone .I was helpless too and now that you know my story and why we started this campaign, I invite you to follow us, share your story, and learn simple, powerful ways to support someone through loss. It’s okay not to know everything, but you can always learn more and help someone overcome this pain.

In this link you will find our social media platforms so you can be part of our family <3

https://linktr.ee/ma3akk