Yamama’s education journey: one successful step at a time

Dar’a city, south Syria – “I’m proud of her as much as she’s proud of me,” said Yamama, 17, about her mother as they walked together into a UNICEF-supported learning centre in Dar’a city, south Syria. Yamama currently attends Grade 12 classes there to prepare for taking the national exams next year. Her diligence inspired her mother to return to education.

Yamama’s mother Aisha dropped out of school after completing Grade 9 and getting married. She has stayed at home to take care of her children since. She did not have the opportunity to continue learning, but Yamama helped her to do so. “I always knew she regretted dropping out early although she never mentioned it, so I encouraged her to return to learning,” Yamama explained.

Yamama’s family, from Noaymeh, a small village in rural Dar’a, was displaced more than once during the conflict and lost their house to it in 2018. The father, who works in farming, is the family’s only breadwinners. With the country’s deepening economic turmoil, the family barely stays afloat. But Yamama’s mother ensured that did not affect her children’s education no matter what. “As I couldn’t continue my education, I made my children’s education a priority,” the mother reflected.

Born with a visual impairment, Yamama attended school until Grade 4, when she began to need more specialized educational support. Keen on helping her daughter to continue learning, her mother looked for schools in Dar’a, but none were equipped to receive her.

In 2017, Yamama’s mother Aisha found out about a UNICEF-supported learning centre in Dar’a city that provides children who missed out on their education with the chance to catch up, through the ‘self-learning’ programme. “When I heard about the education project for children with disabilities, including one for children with visual impairments, I almost cried from happiness,” she said.

Yamama, then 10, started learning Braille, a writing system used by people with visual impairments, at the UNICEF-supported centre. It was turning point in her life. “I persevered until I mastered Braille. Making friends and creating a social life besides the one I had at home was another highlight thanks to the centre,” Yamama said, about her experience.

“Previously, she was shy and isolated. She would not share her feelings with us. But she has turned into an outgoing person with lots of friends,” her mother reiterated.

Yamama continued her learning journey at the centre, and last year, she successfully passed Grade 9 national exams. She enrolled herself for Grade 12 classes this year, hoping to prepare well in advance so she can sit for the national exams in the upcoming academic year.

“Being in the centre has changed my daughter’s life. It’s helped her to make one successful step in education after the other,” said Yamama’s mother.

As part of a joint UN programme, children, benefitting from the UNICEF-supported self-learning in Dar’a city, received monthly vouchers from WFP, enabling their families to buy a range of food items from dedicated shops in the governorate. “The vouchers have eased a burden. They helped us to focus on more important things like the children’s education,” Yamama’s mother said.

Yamama, who, at first, had a hard time learning French, said it has become her favourite subject at the learning centre. “I want to study French literature and become a French teacher for children with visual impairments. I want to help them love the language like I do now.”