Education Syrian Arab Republic Project #32853

Education For Children Inside Syria

by UNICEF USA

Project Report | Jun 6, 2019
Update: Self Learning in Syria

By Whitney Simon | Manager

Brothers Omar and Ali attend a SLP in Aleppo

Dear Friend,

Eight years after the start of the conflict, the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic remains one the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with more than 13 million people in need of assistance within the country, including more than five million children. The humanitarian situation has put additional stress on Syria’s education system, which was already overstretched and under resourced before the conflict began. An estimated 1.8 million children are out of school currently, and more than a million children are at risk of dropping out. The formal education system lost over one third of its education personnel, and across Syria one in three schools is out of use because it has been destroyed, damaged or is sheltering displaced families.

As you know, UNICEF has partnered with Educate A Child (EAC), a global program of the Education Above All Foundation, to implement the Self-Learning Program in Syria (SLP). With your support, the program will reach approximately 300,000 children in Syria over three years who have limited or no access to schooling with a curriculum and environment that is conducive to learning, so that children who have missed out on regular schooling can continue their education and ultimately return to a formal school setting.

In the program’s first year, a total of 118,174 children - more than half of whom are girls - enrolled in SLP or Curriculum B activities across Syria – an overachievement of the original Year 1 target. UNICEF and partners also accomplished the following results in the first year of the program:

Procured 640,720 textbooks from the self-learning materials for distribution in opposition-controlled areas, and an additional 195,904 Curriculum B textbooks for use in government-controlled areas;
Distributed self-learning materials to 113,200 children through a cross-line operation in Raqqa, where children had no educational materials to start SLP activities;
Supported the activation of 485 learning spaces in public schools, homes, community centers and tents in camps;
Procured 52,000 school bags that comprise a learning kit distributed to children across Syria;
Procured 317 school-in-a-box kits for distribution in opposition-controlled areas where children do not have access to government-supported schools;
Procured 977 recreation kits for distribution to newly enrolled children;
Reached 8,828 children with psychosocial support; and
Recruited 6,534 teachers and trained 2,973 to be facilitators for the SLP.

With population displacement, widespread violence, multiple armed groups and authorities vying for control, an overstretched education system and widespread poverty, Syrian families find it extremely challenging to prioritize education when they have difficulty meeting even their basic daily needs. With your support and matching funds from EAC that double the impact of your gift, UNICEF is able to engage in ongoing work to implement the Self-Learning Program and Curriculum B in a way that is mindful of the deeply complex operational environment in Syria.

Sincerely,

Whitney Simon

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Mar 12, 2019
Delivering education to out-of-school children in Syria

By Emma Pfister | Manager, Global Cause Partnerships

UNICEF /Syria/IMG-7988

Dear Friend,

After eight years of war, the humanitarian situation in Syria has become increasingly dire, creating continued challenges for UNICEF and other partners to provide out-of-school children with learning materials and safe learning spaces. Ongoing violence and danger persist, with a deep and lasting effect on the children. The humanitarian context has put additional stress on the education system, which was already overstretched and under-resourced before the conflict began. An estimated 1.75 million children are out of school currently, with another one million children at risk of dropping out.

To bring education to out-of-school children in Syria, UNICEF USA and UNICEF’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Office have partnered to implement the Self-Learning Program (SLP) in Syria. The SLP aims at reaching out-of-school children with a curriculum and learning environment in parts of Syria where children do not have access to formal education. In vulnerable areas like East Ghouta, Deir Ez-Zor, Raqqa and Idleb, where non-governmental partners have had no access to unserved communities UNICEF is reaching out-of-school children with Curriculum B, an accelerated learning program implemented in public schools.

Here are a few achievements to date:

UNICEF has procured more than 835,000 textbooks and 52,000 school bags as part of the learning kits for distribution to out-of-school children.
317 school-in-a-box kits have been procured for distribution in opposition areas.
At least 118,000 children (more than half of whom are girls) have been enrolled in SLP or Curriculum B activities.
UNICEF through its partners recruited 6,500 teachers for the implementation of the SLP.

The program continues to be challenged by the volatile security situation in Syria, ministerial requirements for approval of implementing partners, and non-governmental organizations’ overall capacity to respond. However, like you, UNICEF is continuing to put children first and fighting for their rights, well-being and survival.

Thank you.

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Dec 5, 2018
The Story of Mohammad and Sami

By Emma C. Pfister | Manager, Global Cause Partnerships

Mohammad and Sami

Dear Friend,

Each day, your supports impacts children in Syria with access to education, even in the hardest to reach places. Here is a short story to showcase what your support is doing for the next generation in Syria:

For brothers Mohammad, 10, and Sami, eight, life was normal. Like many children, they went to school, played with friends, and loathed their daily chores.

That was almost four years ago, until their home near Raqqa fell to conflict and the sway of belligerents, causing many people to endure immense suffering. To make matters worse for Mohammad and Sami, fighting and attacks near their home escalated, forcing them to abandon not only their home, but their education as well.

“We left everything behind, except for the clothes on our backs,” says Mohammad, recalling the tiring journey. “We left our home in the middle of the night and walked to another farm where we stayed without food or water for one full day,” he continues.

Mohammad and his family then drove to nearby Qamishly.

“The worst part was the fear,” says Mohammad. “The fear of being trapped in the middle of the fighting and being killed,” he adds.

Like so many of the children of Raqqa, the two brothers have been exposed to untold suffering since the conflict began. Insecurity and access restrictions have severely limited the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The last UN-aid convoy to reach Raqqa was years ago.

Restrictions have also been imposed on services, including health and education. This has left children and their families deprived of basic services, forcing them to pay soaring prices for commodities.

“We used to run to the house’s corners whenever we heard fighting,” says Sami. “We learned to stay away from windows; one day a shell hit our neighbor’s home, and one of our windows shattered into pieces over my head while I was playing,” recounting his experience with war.

When the brothers arrived in Qamishly, they had not seen a classroom in about four years. They enrolled in the Self-Learning Programme, a joint initiative by Educate A Child (EAC), a global programme of Education Above All and UNICEF USA. Its unique curriculum is designed for out of school children (OOSC), enabling them to study at home, in places of worship or at community learning centers with the help of an adult.

Together, EAC and UNICEF support community learning centers, provide necessary learning materials districts and aim to reach 95,000 OOSC with this innovative alternative learning programme.

Mohammad and Sami are excited to be back in school. Mohammad hopes to be a businessman someday, while Sami wants to become a carpenter.

Thank you for all that you do to put children first.

Happy Holidays!

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