Hope through art: Majd’s story

Sayyeda Zeinab, Rural Damascus, Syria - “The thing I miss most about home is my drawings,” said Majd, 6, from As-Sweida. “My mother used to hang them all over the house because she said they were beautiful.”

After the family arrived at the shelter in Rural Damascus, Majd stopped drawing. Before recent events, life was peaceful. His father, Wissam, ran a mobile phone shop, and his mother, Wafaa, was a midwife. Majd also has a baby brother, Jibran.

“We realized how much he missed drawing when he sketched our house during a psychological first aid session,” Wafaa said. She bought him a drawing book and pencils and soon began hanging his new artwork around their small shelter room. “I know this is temporary, but I want to rebuild routines for my children, like before.”

Wafaa credits the UNICEF-supported child protection mobile team for helping restore a sense of normalcy. “They reminded us that keeping life going helps us cope.”

The mobile team provides mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) to displaced families in Sayyeda Zeinab, Rural Damascus, including psychological first aid, recreational activities, and individual and group sessions.

“When we arrived, we were exhausted and shocked,” Wafaa said. “We locked ourselves in that tiny shelter room, not just the door, but our hearts too.”

Majd added, “Our house in As-Sweida was big. I had my own room to draw and play. Here, the four of us share one tiny room. I don’t like it.”

Since joining the sessions, Majd has made remarkable progress. “He started drawing again. He smiles more. Before, he shut himself away, refusing to go outside. Now, he has friends and looks forward to exploring the area,” Wafaa said.

“I get excited when the team arrives,” Majd shared. I like showing them my drawings and talking about how I feel. I used to be speechless when I heard the loud noises. But now, those memories come back less and less.” He also learned about child rights in these sessions and proudly reminds his mother of them.

Wafaa attends UNICEF-supported positive parenting sessions designed to help caregivers process trauma and support their children. “I wait impatiently for these visits,” she said. “It’s my time to reconnect with myself and understand the challenges we face.”

She has even helped facilitate a parenting session for other mothers. “Talking with them made me realise how much strength we have, even when everything seems hard.”

Through these sessions, Wafaa found new friends and a support network. “We share ideas and encourage each other. The team taught us to stay connected and strong.”

When asked about his dreams, Majd said confidently, “I want to be a dentist, so I can help people smile.” Wafaa is hopeful. “I want my family to be safe and my children to get a good education.”

Since July 2025, UNICEF has supported children and their caregivers affected by conflict in As-Sweida by providing essential mental health, psychosocial, and child protection services, helping families to strengthen well-being, build resilience, and cope with adversity. Through these programmes, children like Majd are regaining hope and a sense of normalcy.