A safe space to heal: Mouna’s story of hope
In Syria, UNICEF’s integrated centres offer children the emotional and physical care they need to recover and thrive
Hamoryah, Rural Damascus, 19 June 2025: “My father used to take me to the grocery, buy me sweets and play with me. We used to have so much fun,” recalled Mouna, 11-year-old girl from Hamoryah, a town in Rural Damascus. “My sister Haneen was only two months old when he passed away. She doesn’t remember him, but I do very well.”
In 2018, escalating violence forced Mouna’s family to flee their home and seek safety in a shelter. During their displacement, tragedy struck, their father lost his life.
Her mother, Samar, struggled to support her daughters through the loss. Samar watched helplessly as her daughter’s grief deepened. “I tried everything to help her feel better,” Samar said, “but I couldn’t do it alone.”
Mouna became isolated and irritable. She even distanced herself from little Haneen. “I used to cry when I saw my friends holding their father's hand or talking about gifts he gave them,” Mouna shared. Her mental health challenges began to affect her schooling. “I couldn’t focus. I hated studying,” Mouna clarified.
In January 2025, Samar learned about a nearby UNICEF-supported integrated centre offering a range of services for families and children, including mental health and psychosocial support. She enrolled Mouna in a child-friendly space, a safe, welcoming environment where children can begin to heal, learn, and express their feelings, thoughts and emotions.
For Mouna, it was a turning point. “Once I enter, my heart beats with joy, as if I’m stepping into a wonderland,” she said. The breakthrough came during a session on emotions. “When they spoke about sadness, I couldn’t hold back my tears. I talked about my father in front of everyone. Since then, I felt something inside me heal.”, she added.
Two months later, her personality began to change. She became more cheerful, communicative, and open. Her bond with Haneen grew stronger. “I love being the old sister,” she said proudly. “Haneen copies everything I do, even my favourite sweets!”
The UNICEF-supported centre also provides basic healthcare and nutrition services. Samar brings her daughters to the clinic whenever needed. “As a widow, I carry a heavy burden. Now, I don’t have to worry about their health. For the first time since I lost my husband, I feel I’m not alone,” she said.
This year’s Eid felt different. “It still hurts without my dad,” Mouna reflected. “But now I know it’s okay to feel that pain, and I choose to focus on joyful moments with my family.”.
Mouna dreams of becoming a mathematics teacher. “One day, I’ll be explaining equations on the board,” she said, smiling. “I know my father will be watching, proud of the woman I’ve become.”
Since the beginning of 2025, UNICEF reached over 50,000 children across Syria with mental health psychosocial support services – thanks to the valuable contributions of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the KfW Development Bank; the Governments of Italy, Norway, Japan and the Republic of Korea; the Global Humanitarian Thematic Fund; the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); UNICEF National Committees for Japan, Ireland and Spain; the United States Government; and United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund.
In the same period, nearly 1.2 million people - including 900,000 children and 300,000 women - accessed primary healthcare services through 106 fixed clinics and 177 mobile teams supported by UNICEF and partners. This vital work is made possible through generous funding from the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) of the United States Department of State, Refugees, and Migration; the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); the Governments of Austria and Canada; UNICEF National Committee for Netherlands; the Global Humanitarian Thematic Fund; and United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund.
