IN PICTURES: Disabled teacher in Gaza inspires his students to never give up

Ahmed Sawafiri in his home with his four-year-old daughter Jana and his eight-month-old son Mutassim (MEE/Mohammed Asad)

Sawafiri with his four-year-old daughter Jana (MEE/Mohammed Asad)

Sawafiri's brother helps him get down the stairs from his home to street level (MEE/Mohammed Asad)

Sawafiri carefully descends the staircase (MEE/Mohammed Asad)

Sawafiri inside the school, moving between classrooms (MEE/Mohammed Asad)

Sawafiri in the classroom among his students as classes for the day commence (MEE/Mohammed Asad)

Last year an Israeli missile struck and both Sawafiri's legs and one of his arms were torn from his body (MEE/Mohammed Asad)

“My message to all disabled people is not to forget life and give in to despair. There is no life with despair, and there should be no despair in life”. (MEE/Mohammed Asad)

Despite his disability Sawafiri still takes to the playground with his students for some gentle sports and exercise (MEE/Mohammed Asad)

Sawafiri teaches the principles and values of steadfastness and survival; an important lesson given all of the odds stacked against them by virtue of where they live (MEE/Mohammed Asad)

Sawaferi is due to take a BA in Islamic studies after finishing his final university semester in June (MEE/Mohammed Asad)

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