Striving for a better future

Aleppo, northwest Syria, February 2022 - Six years ago, a shell fell on Fatima’s house in Ar-Raqqa, Syria, heavily damaging it. A shrapnel injured the eye of her brother, Ibrahim, causing him permanent damage. Fatima, traumatized by what had happened, became very fearful of loud noises.

“She’d cover her ears and cry,” explained her mother, Ramia, talking about Fatima’s reaction to sudden movements or sounds. “Whenever we’d hear sounds of fighting near us, I’d put on some music, trying to conceal the noise,” she added. 

Soon after the incident, the family was forced to leave and flee to a safer location. The family grabbed whatever basics they could carry and headed to Aleppo, a 200-kilometre arduous journey.

“We walked through landmines. It was either that or staying home, risking death,” said Fatima’s father, Ahmad.

In Aleppo, Fatima’s mother continued to worry about Fatima and took her for a medical check-up. Fatima, who exhibited communication difficulties and signs of distress, was diagnosed with an intellectual disability.

Fatima and her siblings continued to be home-schooled and spent most of their time at home.

Later in the year, her mother enrolled Fatima, her twin sister, Shaimaa, and their younger brother, Ibrahim, in school. The siblings attend the UNICEF-supported ‘Curriculum B’ programme. It is an intensive learning programme, combining two academic years in one, and it allows children catch up to their peers. It was the first time Fatima and her siblings set a foot inside a classroom. Fatima had difficulties coping and she started skipping school.