In 2022, UNICEF reached 18,000 children in Al-Hasakeh, northeast Syria, with a self-learning program and remedial classes to help them continue their education.
The activities were funded by the U.S. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration; Education Cannot Wait; European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO); German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the KfW Development Bank; Governments of Canada, Finland, Italy, and Norway; Global Partnership for Education (GPE); Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency; Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation; and UNICEF’s Global Humanitarian Thematic Funding.
“I remember the time when I did not go to school. I used to feel sad not to be able to learn, so I know how other children must feel when they are out of school,” said Rayan, 12, during class.
She currently attends a UNICEF-supported self-learning center in rural Qamishli, in northeast Syria, together with more than 30 school-aged children. All of them have missed out on all or parts of their education because of the conflict in Syria.
“When I first came to the center, I wasn’t able to spell, read or write,” explained Rayan. Her family has barely been able to get by, let alone prioritize the children’s education. “Ms Butheina was with me every step of the way until I was able to read and write,” she added.
