According to a UNICEF report, an estimated 3.7 million Syrian children – 1 in 3 of all Syrian children – has been born since the conflict began in 2011, their lives shaped by violence, fear and displacement.
This figure includes more than 151,000 children born as refugees since 2011. More than one-third of these children were killed while in school or on their way to or from school.
FIVE YEARS OF THE SYRIAN CONFLICT
THE DANGEROUS BOAT RIDE TO GREECE THROUGH THE EYES OF A SYRIAN REFUGEE GIRL
Malak, a 7-year-old Syrian girl with an old soul, recounts her journey from Syria to Greece. She misses her friends and lost all of her belongings during the dangerous journey to Europe with her mother. After reaching Greece, she says "I hope things get back to how they were."
SAJA LOST HER LEG BUT NOT HER AMBITION
2 year-old Saja is a symbol of courage amid Syria’s brutal conflict. She has lost many of her friends – and was seriously injured herself. But her determination to get an education is as strong as ever. The #ChildrenofSyria need our help.
BUTMATHS AND ARABIC ARE MINE
16 year old Mesh'al is a Syrian youth from Dar’aa, living in Za’atari Refugee Camp in Jordan. Like many boys in the camp, he has not gone to school since moving here and works transporting people's groceries across the massive camp home to over 80,000 refugees. He visits a Makani centre managed by Save the Children International with support from UNICEF, where he learns Arabic, math and hair dressing.
"I was in the 7th grade back in Syria and bombing happened and other bad stuff. We came to Jordan. I should be in the 10th grade now but I didn't study, I worked on a wheelbarrow to support my family. If I go to school there will be no one to support them.” - Mesh'al
“The work is exhausting. When I was little I loved to read. I wanted to become a teacher. But now if I want to go to school I will go back to 5th or 6th grade. I became old now. It’s not going to work. In my free time I go to the child's club. I am learning hairdressing. I love hairdressing because it’s good and beautiful and you won't make your clothes dirty.” - Mesh'al
“To me hairdressing is a profession, it will remain for my future. But mathematics and Arabic will remain mine. If I learn them, they will remain mine. Inshallah, I am planning to become successful. Tomorrow, in the future I will open up a shop and I will have this profession.” - Mesh'al
In Jordan, of the estimated 220,000 school-aged Syrian refugee children
registered by UNHCR, about 146,000 are enrolled in the public school system in camps and host communities.
UNICEF’s Makani initiative, in line with the #NoLostGeneration strategy, was launched in early 2015 in collaboration with NGO partners.
Makani centres in refugee camps and host communities in Jordan provide vulnerable children not accessing any form of education with informal learning, life skills training and psychosocial support under one roof.
QAMAR: A 14 YEAR OLD CHILD WITH A CHILD
14 year old Qamar has been married for 2 years and now has a 1 year child.
She feels a huge sense of responsibility being a mother. She can’t read or write and hasn’t attended school since her family fled Syria.
She explains that she thought married life was going to be different and exciting, but now that she is married she sees everything is just the same as it was back home.
CHESS AND A FRIEND'S NOTEBOOK HELP SYRIAN BOY COPE WITH LOSS
"I lost my friend Omar," says Moheb, 11. "Before he died, he gave me his notebook as a gift. It's the most precious thing I own."
Moheb was uprooted from his home when the conflict in Syria started. With his six family members, he found shelter in the city of Aleppo. Moheb often misses his home and his friends. A game of chess offers him some respite from the daily struggles he faces. "I like the peace and quiet I feel when I play it," Moheb explains.
ALIA: I DON'T SHOW THAT I'M DEPRESSED
Alia, 13, is one of her school's best students. Keeping busy to avoid feelings of depression so far from her home in Syria.
