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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations
  • 30 July 2024

Empowering communities: inclusive education in rural Syria

A groupd of children in a classroom holding up signs.
© WeWorld-GVC, 2023 (photographer: M. Deab)

Now in its 13th year of crisis, Syria is grappling with a catastrophe of unprecedented magnitude, with humanitarian needs at an all-time high. Approximately 7.2 million Syrians continue to be internally displaced (IDPs), highlighting the constant need for humanitarian assistance. Over 2/3 of those displaced are women and children who have been deprived of a formal education due to the war.

In rural areas of Syria, with the support of the European Union, the NGO WeWorld-GVC is working to support 118,310 individuals through education and improved access to safe and sufficient water.

Children are gaining access to education, while adults are specifically targeted with awareness campaigns on the importance of education services. In complementarity, communities are learning about the importance of hygiene and receiving access to clean water. The initiative is particularly attentive to the needs of the young, disabled, and displaced, ensuring that no one is left behind.

2 children talking with an aid worker on a street.
In August 2023, WeWorld-GVC staff conducted a door-to-door 'Back to Learning' campaign in the rural areas of Deir-ez-Zor, identifying 1,540 out-of-school children through direct engagement with families.
© WeWorld-GVC, 2023 (photographer: M. Deab)
A group of children outside holding papers.
The campaign promoted aspiration and the importance of education in a country where conflict has left many children without access to education, offering tangible steps towards rebuilding Syria's future through learning.
© WeWorld-GVC, 2023 (photographer: M. Deab)
Group of people sitting alongside the walls of a room. In the middle a coal heater.
Focus groups and awareness sessions, funded by the EU and implemented by WeWorld-GVC, unite communities and train them on implementing inclusive education that leaves no one behind.
© WeWorld-GVC, 2023 (photographer: M. Deab)
An aid worker sitting together with a child.
Every child has specific needs and a different level of education. In the EU-funded Mohammed Hammed Al-Ahmad school in Deir-ez-Zor, one-to-one conversations help understand what each child needs to better support their personal and social growth.
© WeWorld-GVC, 2023 (photographer: M. Deab)
An aid worker sitting together with a child in a class room. In front a bag with pencils.
Guidance and support are vital to keep IDP children in school. EU-funded remedial classes address learning gaps to help those at risk of dropping out, and Self-Learning Programmes prepare out-of-school children for re-entry into formal education.
© WeWorld-GVC, 2023 (photographer: M. Deab)
2 aid workers with a child in front of a whiteboard in a classroom.
Remedial classes allow professional educators to provide tailored additional support to help children overcome the challenge of having lost part of their education during the conflict.
© WeWorld-GVC, 2023 (photographer: M. Deab)
4 children in a classroom.
In the eastern governorate of Deir-Ez-Zor, 9 EU-funded centers were activated in 2023, enrolling a total of 1,985 students. It is estimated that 10,000 children will complete at least 1 cycle of Non-Formal Education by May 2025.
© WeWorld-GVC, 2023 (photographer: M. Deab)
View of children in a clasroom, attending a lesson.
Centres that were most in need of retention were given priority. Both children attending Self-Learning Programmes and Remedial Classes received EU-funded stationery, cleaning materials, and reusable water bottles.
© WeWorld-GVC, 2023 (photographer: M. Deab)
View of a wall with a painting of a pencil and a paintbrush with the text 'Welcome back to school'.
With the EU-supported rehabilitation of the Karm Aziza School in Aleppo, 15 learning spaces, including classrooms and toilet blocks, have been transformed into safe, protective, and inclusive environments for 280 students.
© WeWorld-GVC, 2024
View of a toiletdoor with a wheelchair pictogram on it. Against the wall a concrete wash facilities.
The school's rehabilitation ensures that every child, is welcomed into a space designed for safety, dignity, and learning. Fences were installed to enhance safety, and spaces were crafted for comfort and hygiene, paving the way for an inclusive future.
© WeWorld-GVC, 2024
3 children walking towards the entrance of the school.
EU-funded Self-Learning Programs across rural areas of Aleppo enrolled a total of 1,014 out-of-school children who are now engaging in a new educational chapter tailored to their needs.
© WeWorld-GVC, 2023 (photographer: A. Abdulmannan)
Children standing outside in a circle. In the background the school building.
"Perhaps the most visible impact is the eagerness to come to school mixed with enthusiasm to compensate for what they missed, which encourages parents to send their children to school," says Fatima, a teacher in a Self-Learning Program.
© WeWorld-GVC, 2023 (photographer: A. Abdulmannan)
  • flag_eu.jpg

    Story by Garineh Antablian, Information and Communication Assistant for the Middle East and North Africa, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

    Photos: © WeWorld-GVC

    Publication date: 30/07/2024