A father’s promise: healing, hope, and a new beginning
With support from UNICEF, a father discovers the power of positive parenting and a new way to lead his family with love and hope
Duma, Rural Damascus, Syria – “I usually arrive home at night exhausted after more than 12 hours of hard work—just hoping I’ve earned enough to buy food for the next day,” said Nazir, a 54-year-old father from Duma in Rural Damascus. “But when I see my children waving to me from the window, calling my name with joy, all the tiredness vanishes in a second.”
Known in his neighbourhood as “Abu Maher”—father of Maher—Nazir proudly carries the memory of his eldest son, who was killed just days before the end of the Ghouta siege in Rural Damascus in 2018. “I insist people call me by that name,” he said. “It’s my way of honouring Maher. He’s not with us, but he’s always in my heart.”
Abu Maher is the father of seven: Maher, who would have been 25, Diaa, 24, Baraa, 17, Anas, 16, and his little daughters Aline, 5, Lareen, 4, and Haneen, just 1. The family has faced tremendous hardship. “We kept moving from place to place during the conflict, trying to stay safe. It left deep scars, especially on Diaa’s mental health,” he said. “There are days when I can’t afford his treatment or medication. It’s heartbreaking.”
Despite working long hours as a plumber in a small, rented shop, Abu Maher struggles to make ends meet. “The pressure made me short-tempered. I didn’t realise how much my mood affected my children,” he admitted. “At home, I set strict rules—no jumping, no loud voices, no TV when I was around. I thought fear meant respect. Now I know I was wrong.”
Better parenting skills sessions transform lives
“I realised that being a father isn’t just about providing food and shelter—it’s about love, support and listening.”
Everything changed when he joined Sanadi, the national Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) programme for parents delivered by a UNICEF-supported child protection mobile team. “At first, I just tagged along with friends. But from the first session, something inside me started to shift.”
Through Sanadi, fathers like Abu Maher learn how to connect emotionally with their children, manage anger and stress, and use positive discipline techniques. “I realised that being a father isn’t just about providing food and shelter—it’s about love, support and listening,” he said.
Today, his home is full of laughter. “After work, I bring my kids small sweets. We laugh; we play. I’m part of their gang now,” he said, smiling.
“A father is the foundation of his family—if he’s strong, stable, and emotionally present, the whole household stands on solid ground. I believe that with the right tools, every father can change the future of his children.”
When asked about the most valuable lesson he learned during the sessions, he said: “Managing stress and anger. Life here is tough, but our children are not to blame. They deserve our love, not our frustration.”
Now, Abu Maher is helping other fathers in his community. He volunteers with the mobile team, encouraging men across his community to join the parenting sessions. “When a father is well supported, the whole family thrives,” he said. “A father is the foundation of his family—if he’s strong, stable, and emotionally present, the whole household stands on solid ground. I believe that with the right tools, every father can change the future of his children.”
His wife and children have seen the transformation. “When my wife saw how calm the house had become, and how the children responded to me with love instead of fear, she decided to join the sessions too,” he said with a proud laugh.
Looking ahead, Abu Maher remains hopeful. “Those young volunteers who led our sessions—they inspired me. I dream that my children will grow up like them, making a difference in their communities.”
This Father’s Day, UNICEF celebrates the strength, love, and resilience of fathers like Abu Maher—men who are choosing connection over control, and compassion over fear. With the right support, every father has the power to nurture, protect, and inspire.
Since January 2024, UNICEF, in partnership with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the KfW Development Bank, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the governments of Norway, Australia, Canada, Republic of Korea, Italy, and Japan, the Global Humanitarian Thematic Fund, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), and UNICEF National Committees for Germany, Australia, Japan, and Ireland, supported more than 52,000 caregivers across Syria with parenting skills and psychosocial support.
