Syrian Children: When Going to School Becomes a Dream MPC Journal – Mashreq Politics & Culture Journal – written by Hakim Khatib – Syrian Children

War in Syria has affected almost every Syrian family. Over 50% of the population have been lost, displaced or imprisoned since 2011.

Depressingly, over 5,000,000 Syrian children have been traumatised, orphaned, displaced, sexually abused or dropped from schools. Syria remains a place, in which going to school becomes a dream for children. The Humans of Syria (HOS) initiative captured some of these children’s faces. Here is what they have to share with you.  

Syrian Children: When Going to School Becomes a Dream MPC Journal – Mashreq Politics & Culture Journal – written by Hakim Khatib – Syrian Children
© Photo: Mahmoud Taha

Hussein, 9, from the village of Talbisseh in Homs province in central Syria says:

“My dream is to go back to school to learn with my friends.”

Syrian Children: When Going to School Becomes a Dream MPC Journal – Mashreq Politics & Culture Journal – written by Hakim Khatib – Syrian Children
© Photo: Mahmoud Taha

Marah, 10, lives in a displaced people’s house near the besieged city of Rastan in Homs countryside in central Syria highlights a rather depressing controversy. She says:

“I’ve never gone to school to learn, although my family and I currently live in one of the schools outside my city.”

Syrian Children: When Going to School Becomes a Dream MPC Journal – Mashreq Politics & Culture Journal – written by Hakim Khatib – Syrian Children
© Photo: Noor Hmz

Ahmed, 10, from Qaboun in Damascus southern Syria says:

 “I like school a lot. During the month of Ramadan, I used to go to help my dad selling refreshments after school day.”

Syrian Children: When Going to School Becomes a Dream MPC Journal – Mashreq Politics & Culture Journal – written by Hakim Khatib – Syrian Children
Photo:   © Photo: Samer Alwan

Mohammed, 6, is another child whose family was displaced from Eastern Ghouta near Damascus. He says:

“I’m comfortable here, but I’m trying to find work so we can get away from all aid hand-outs. I want to get a job so I can be responsible for my displaced family so we can afford a better life.”

Syrian Children: When Going to School Becomes a Dream MPC Journal – Mashreq Politics & Culture Journal – written by Hakim Khatib – Syrian Children

Other four children, Hussein, Nadwa, Nada and Ahmad, from Saraqib in Idlib countryside in Syria insist that they will keep playing “no matter how the situation or the weather is.”

Here are some statistics about Syrian war:

Suffering Quantified

The total population of Syria was around 22 million in 2011

Over 50% of them have been displaced since then

Over 320,000 have been killed – That’s more than the total population of Iceland

Over 500,000 have been injured or imprisoned – That’s as if the total population of Luxembourg were in hospitals or jails.

More than 13.5 million Syrians are in “urgent need of humanitarian assistance”

More than five million children were traumatised, orphaned, displaced, abused and dropped from schools

Quotes were modified for minor corrections. Note that some of the photos above were taken in 2016. It could be that the situation in that area or of the child’s has changed since.

By Hakim Charles

Hakim Charles studied political science of the Middle East, European Studies, journalism and linguistics. He has been lecturing at different German universities since 2011 on issues related to ideology and the interplay of power thereof in socio-political life, and religion and its relationship to contemporary politics in the regions of West Asia and North Africa, especially Egypt and Syria. He is also the editor-in-chief of the Mashreq Politics & Culture Journal (MPC Journal) since 2014 and has published over 100 articles in different languages, academic and otherwise, in a wide spectrum of on-line and printed newspapers, journals and think tanks. His current research focuses on Islam-inspired political ideologies such as Islamist extremism and Salafism, radicalisation, de-radicalisation processes in Germany as well as peace and conflict in the Middle East.