Support for Educational Opportunities for Syrian Children
In the heart of Syria, a 13-year-old boy named Mohamed is making a remarkable comeback. Mohamed, who lost part of his right arm and several fingers on his left hand due to a weapon blast during the civil war, is now thriving thanks to an innovative self-learning program delivered by UNICEF with funding from Education Cannot Wait (ECW).
Mohamed and his family were forced to flee their home in Shahba City due to intense bombing. They found refuge in a camp for the displaced, where life was scary and hard, with scarce water, unreliable electricity, and thin tent walls. The conflict in Syria resulted in countless civilian deaths and the displacement of millions, including Mohamed and his family.
A year ago, Mohamed was able to enter the self-learning program. Through the program, he received learning materials and was taught the basics, the Arabic letters and numbers, by a local tutor named Darweesh. Since then, Mohamed has made a schedule for his studies and has been able to catch up with his education.
The donors financing UNICEF's innovative self-learning program include governments, private sector partners, foundations, and individual contributors committed to improving access to quality education for children like Mohamed. So far, ECW's total investments in Syria have reached 657,527 children, including 321,814 girls.
Mohamed's hard work has paid off. He has scored higher than some of his classmates in his last exam, and now helps his younger brothers with their studies every evening. Around 10,000 teachers have received training through the program, and approximately 133,000 children have received learning materials.
Over 7,000 schools in Syria have been damaged or destroyed, and an estimated 2 million children are out of school. Through this innovative program, hundreds of thousands of children impacted by conflict, forced displacement, natural disasters, cholera outbreaks, and other emergencies are finally able to access quality education.
The war may have cut short Mohamed's childhood and his hope for the future, but with the help of UNICEF and ECW, he is determined to rebuild his life and achieve his dreams.
Read also:
- Medical professional advocates for increased action to address deficiency of primary care physicians
- Political Leadership Ought to Prioritize Topical Influence: Reasons and Implications
- Treating hypertension can potentially add a decade to a person's life span.
- Mau Forest Women Preservers: Maintainers of Food Independence and Protectors of Sovereignty
