Rebuilding children’s dreams by repairing schools in conflict-affected areas
UNICEF rehabilitates damaged schools and offers children a safe learning environment in eastern Syria
Deir ez-zor governorate, Syria: “Few years ago, Al Tabni school was the only school in this area. You can only imagine how crowded this school was when displaced families started to return to their homes in 2019,” Ahmad, 47, the school’s principal said.
Al Tabni school, located in west Deir ez- zor governorate included originally three operating buildings. During the conflict two of the buildings were damaged, limiting their capacity to accommodate students, while the third one was destroyed, and it became completely non-functional. Students had to endure with dilapidated walls and dysfunctional toilets. Without any windows or doors, the temperature in the classrooms would soar in the summer and drop below freezing during the winter.
“We had 250 students squeezed in crowded and unequipped rooms,” explained the principal.
In August 2022, UNICEF stepped in to repair the damage and provide students to a dignified learning environment. The construction work included installing new windows and doors, fixing roofs, painting the walls, and installing new water facilities. It also involved turning the playground into a happy and safe place for the students to play in and enjoy. UNICEF also helped to open an early childhood education room in the school and equipped it with furniture and educational tools. The rehabilitation work was finalized in December 2022.
“Today, we have 377 students coming from different places and we can accommodate them well in the school. We have three equipped buildings operating with full capacity and serving five communities,” the principal, said. “In the past, we had 10 crowded classrooms operating with very limited capacity. After completing the rehabilitation, we have 16 fully functional classrooms and an early childhood classroom for pre-school aged children,” he underlined.
“The school looks wonderful. All walls are painted and clean! Most importantly, I am now able to use the bathrooms. In the past, I never went to the bathroom because it was always broken and dirty. I used to wait until I returned home. Some of my friends had to use the bathrooms in the houses near the school,” Sohaib, 12, explained. “I will become an engineer in the future to deliver water to all schools and rebuild the damaged schools in the area”, Sohaib added excitedly.
“The rehabilitation of schools in Deir ez -zor does not only provide a safe learning environment but also helps prevent children from being recruited or exposed to other risks associated with the conflict. Providing safe and equitable access to education, especially in remote areas, can have an everlasting positive impact in the lives of conflict- affected children,” UNICEF’s education officer in Deir ez-zor field office, Feras, explained.
Between the beginning of 2022 and mid of 2023, UNICEF with support from Government of Finland, has provided rehabilitation to 64 classrooms and 3 early childhood education classrooms within 4 schools located in Ar Raqqa and Deir ez-zor governorates in eastern Syria, helping 1345 students in the two governorates to fulfil their right to education.
