Chasing Colourful Dreams Through Education

Hatay, Türkiye – Born in a small village in Idlib, Rimas is the youngest of nine children in the Kaşşid family. Eleven years ago, at just three years old, her life changed forever when her family fled the war in Syria. Her father, Ahmad, recalls the harrowing days with tears in his eyes: “The sound of bombs never stopped. It was not safe for our children anymore. We had no choice but to leave our homeland.”

The family sought refuge in Hatay, Türkiye, where they slowly began to rebuild their lives. Yet, a decade later, another tragedy struck. The devastating earthquakes of 2023 left their two-story home in ruins, forcing them to start over once more.

“We lived in a tent for a while after the earthquake,” says Sumayyah, Rimas’s mother. “But with nine children, plus my eldest daughter’s newborn baby, it became impossible. We had to search for another home.”

The Kaşşids are now resettled in a modest home in Hatay. Despite the hardships, Ahmad works tirelessly at a construction materials shop to support the family, while Sumayyah dreams of a better future for her children. “I never had an education,” she says. “If I had a diploma, I could have helped support my family. That’s why I want my children to study and have a profession. I want them to have choices that I didn’t.”

The Kaşşid family is just one of many refugee families who have faced significant challenges in accessing education for their children. The pandemic, worsening economic conditions, and the earthquakes have made it even more difficult for vulnerable children, like Rimas, to stay in school. Families are struggling with increased living costs, limited livelihood opportunities, and, for many, the destruction of their homes. For these families, education often becomes a lower priority, and many refugee children find themselves at risk of dropping out.

As a result, reaching education has become even more challenging for out-of-school refugee children. There has also been an increase in the caregiving and domestic work responsibilities of girls, who often take on more household tasks due to the destruction of schools and social services. This has made it harder for girls like Rimas to stay in school and continue their education.

When the Kaşşid family faced issues with their identity records, they first turned to ASAM, UNICEF’s implementing partner, for help. Later, as part of the School Enrolment Support (SSE) Programme, outreach teams identified the family’s need for education support. Through outreach activities, Rimas and other children in the family were assessed for their educational needs and referred to appropriate educational opportunities.

With the generous financial contribution from the European Union Humanitarian Aid, the SSE Programme is specifically designed to help vulnerable children overcome barriers to education. The program provides essential support for refugee children, including education counselling, referral services, transportation support, and stationery assistance, all of which are crucial for families trying to ensure their children stay in school. For families like the Kaşşids, these services are vital in ensuring that their children can access education despite the ongoing challenges of displacement, economic hardship, and the aftereffects of the earthquake.

After the earthquake, Rimas had withdrawn from school due to trauma and bullying from her peers, but the support from the SSE outreach team helped her overcome these challenges and Rimas was able to return to school. With counselling, referrals, and consistent follow-up, Rimas’s school and teachers were informed about her situation, and she was transferred to a new class where she could start fresh. Socializing with her new classmates helped Rimas overcome her anxiety, and her fears related to the earthquake began to lessen.

"I want to be a hairdresser and a make-up artist when I grow up,” says Rimas shyly. “I dream of colourful styles and creating something beautiful. With vocational training, I could improve myself and achieve my dreams" says Rimas, who, despite her shy personality, dreams of a colourful future.

Rimas’s closest friend is her 10-year-old little brother, Munir, who walks to school with her every day. Munir says, “When I grow up, I want to be a policeman, especially a motorcycle cop. My dad has a motorcycle, and sometimes I tinker with it with my brothers Muhammad and Abdulmuin. I always imagine myself as a policeman riding a motorcycle like his.”

Since its launch in 2019, the SSE Programme has identified over 254,000 out-of-school refugee children and successfully enrolled more than 132,000 in education. By addressing barriers like trauma, financial struggles, and lack of access, the program has given vulnerable children, like Rimas, a chance to reclaim their right to education.

For Rimas and her family, the path hasn’t been easy, but with the support of initiatives like the SSE Programme, they are finding hope amid the challenges. Education is not just a tool for learning—it’s a gateway to dreams, resilience, and a brighter future.