Syria: The hardship and hope of children

<p>Over 10 years of conflict in Syria have upended lives and disrupted education for millions of children. Temporary learning spaces give children the opportunity to learn basic skills and receive psychological support.</p>

Syria: The hardship and hope of children

Syria: The hardship and hope of children

Story highlights

  • Over 10 years of conflict in Syria have upended lives and disrupted education for millions of children.
  • A GPE grant of $6.25 million, managed by Save the Children, has helped strengthen educational pathways for children who have been out of school due to the devastating effects of the conflict.
  • The stories of Ali, Danyal, Maya, Faiza, Fatima and Nasser show how temporary learning spaces, functioning with support from GPE, give children in Syria the opportunity to learn basic skills and receive psychological support.

This story was written in collaboration with Save the Children.

Meet 6 children of displaced families living in informal camps in Northeast Syria. They enrolled in school for the first time in 2022 thanks to a temporary learning space established near their camps. They are learning basic skills, like reading and counting, and participate in psychological support sessions.

A GPE grant of $6.25 million for 2021-2024, managed by Save the Children, has helped strengthen educational pathways for children who have been out of school due to the devastating effects of over 10 years of conflict.

Note: All names in the following profiles have been changed to protect the children, their families and community.

Ali, 14

“Displacement and exposure to war scenes have deeply affected children. Educational centers and schools play a crucial role in guiding them back to their natural state. Initially, Ali exhibited isolation and had difficulty integrating with his peers. Over time, he began to regain his personality.”

Sidar
Ali’s teacher, temporary learning space
Ali

Ali, 14, and his family of 10 were displaced from their hometown of Deir Ezzor, Syria in 2017 due to conflict. They live in a tent in an informal camp in Raqqa City, Northeast Syria.

Credit: Save the Children
Ali

In 2022, Ali enrolled in school for the first time at a temporary learning space after Save the Children reached out to him through a back-to-school campaign.

Credit: Save the Children
“I play with my friends during activities, which is good for the body. I run, play soccer, score goals and relax.” Ali, 14-year-old student

I play with my friends during activities, which is good for the body. I run, play soccer, score goals and relax.” Ali, 14-year-old student

Credit: Save the Children
Ali

He has acquired literacy and numeracy skills and participated in psychological support sessions.

Credit: Save the Children
Ali

Prior to attending school, Ali did seasonal work with his father, collecting fruits and vegetables. He loves planting trees and hopes to become an agricultural engineer.

Credit: Save the Children
01 05

Danyal, 13, and Maya, 12

“We have a safe space for children, and the classrooms are equipped with supplies. We have provided them with school bags. This helps the parents to have enthusiasm, and a dose of hope. In the beginning, we had 300 children, and because of the interest and insistence of the parents, it became 600, then 1,200, and now we have 2,000 children.”

Samir
Danyal and Maya’s teacher, temporary learning space
Siblings Danyal, 13, and Maya, 12, live with their family in a displacement camp in Northeast Syria and have suffered from several shocks.

Siblings Danyal, 13, and Maya, 12, live with their family in a displacement camp in Northeast Syria and have suffered from several shocks.

Credit: Save the Children
Danyal and Maya

In 2017, their father passed away during a warplane attack. Six months later, Maya and her sister were hit by a car, and Maya’s sister did not survive. Also, Danyal lost one of his eyes while playing with a piece of iron.

Credit: Save the Children
Maya

These tragedies weighed heavily on Maya in particular: she often cried and isolated herself. Save the Children registered her for psychological support and enrolled both Maya and Danyal at the temporary learning space near their camp.

Credit: Save the Children
Danyal

They had never attended school before and began learning how to read and write. Danyal is now in grade 5 and Maya in grade 4, and they both participate in psychological support sessions.

Credit: Save the Children
Danyal and Maya

When I first came to school, I didn't like anyone…. During my first days of school, I started to love my friends, and my friends and mother would say that I had changed very much. I would tell them that it was thanks to the teacher and the director.” Maya, 12-year-old student

Credit: Save the Children
Danyal

I plant roses, and when you plant them, your studies become better because when you see flowers and vegetables, you relax.” Danyal, 13-year-old student.

Credit: Save the Children
01 06

Faiza and Fatima, 8

Faiza and Fatima

Faiza and Fatima, 8-year-old twin sisters, were displaced from their hometown of Deir Ezzor, Syria in 2017.

Credit: Save the Children
Faiza and Fatima

They live with their mother and 6 siblings in an abandoned building on the outskirts of Raqqa, within one of the camps for displaced people in Northeast Syria. Their father passed away from a heart attack when they were just 2 years old.

Credit: Save the Children
Faiza and Fatima

Before 2022, the twins had never attended school and did not know how to read or write. Save the Children enrolled them in a temporary learning space near their camp.

Credit: Save the Children
Faiza and Fatima

Sometimes, when I don’t know the solution of the assignment, my sister helps me, and sometimes when she doesn’t know the solution, I help her.” Faiza, 8-year-old student.

Credit: Save the Children
Faiza and Fatima

Now in grade 2, Faiza and Fatima have acquired skills in reading, writing and math.

Credit: Save the Children
Faiza and Fatima

When we go to school, we go with our friends, and we all stand together so that nothing happens to us. My mother asks me to hold their hands so that they do not cross the road, and we and our friends stay together until we reach the school.” Fatima, 8-year-old student.

Credit: Save the Children
01 06

Nasser, 14

Nasser, 14-year-old student

“When they were building the school, I used to look at them from my tent. I do recall all the stages of building the center. While watching the worker, I was imagining how I would wake up every morning and go with friends to this center.”

Nasser
14-year-old student
Nasser

At the age of 2, Nasser and his family were displaced from Hama, Syria when their home was bombed and destroyed, and they have been displaced 4 times since then.

Credit: Save the Children
Nasser

Nasser lives with his parents and 8 siblings in a tent built among the ruins of a destroyed building on the outskirts of Raqqa City in Northeast Syria.

Credit: Save the Children
Nasser

Nasser used to herd sheep with his father until he and his two sisters started attending school a temporary learning space in 2022.

Credit: Save the Children
Nasser

“Nasser, upon his initial arrival at the center, did not know how to read and write and was withdrawn. With time, he began to form friendships with his fellow students at the center. Now, he has learned to read and write, and he is an excellent student in mathematics. He is beloved by his friends and the educational staff.” Furat, facilitator, temporary learning space.

Credit: Save the Children
Nasser

The center is close to where Nasser lives. He loves it and has made many friends. He is in grade 3.

Credit: Save the Children
Nasser

“I hope to become a doctor in the future. I want to treat children and help people recover.” Nasser, 14-year-old student.

Credit: Save the Children
01 06

“For many years thousands of children living in this camp were deprived of attending a school. Families are not able to cover the costs of sending their children to a school because the nearest one is about 5 kilometers, and the transportation costs a lot. I remember the first day we started constructing the temporary learning space and how happy the families and the children were. They were coming every day asking about the opening day.”

Ali
Educational assistant, temporary learning space
Bader, Nasser’s father

“My son is now in the third grade, one of my daughters is also in third grade and the youngest one is in the second grade. They now know how to read and write, and the organization helped us by distributing school bags, notebooks, and pens.”

Bader
Nasser’s father

Hassan

“Without the support of Save the Children, I would not have been able to educate my children, and many families in the camp are in a similar situation. It is crucial that the educational centers continue to operate and remain close to the camp.”

Hassan
Ali’s father
Mahmoud

“I hope that their future will be better, without war or bombing, and that the situation will be safe, and we will return to our homes and schools and universities will return.”

Mahmoud
Danyal and Maya’s older brother

While not a GPE partner country, Syria has received funding with exceptional approval by the GPE Board.

December 2024