Letters to the World: Syrian Children at the Zaatari Refugee Camp Share their Wishes

June 19, 2014

World Refugee Day is a time to recognize the resilience and strength of refugees or those who have been forcibly displaced from their homes.

Syria’s civil war has created one of the largest refugee crises of our time. More than 2.8 million, over half of whom are children, have fled Syria as refugees, many to Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq. 

As part of RI’s activities commemorating World Refugee Day on June 20, Syrian children part of RI’s education program at the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan shared their hopes, dreams, and struggles with us. They wrote letters, sharing their feelings and expressing their thoughts on life in a camp far from home.

We received many beautiful and emotional letters. Here are a few of them:

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“Many warm greetings from a child brimming with hope, to those who may read my letter, I say to you that we will rebuild Syria and host you on its grounds and return the favors that you were kind enough to grant us, for which we are thankful. We will welcome you and say “Ahlan wa Sahlan” (“Welcome” in Arabic) in loving Syria, your second home.”(below)

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“In the name of God the Merciful. I want to send this letter to the world, for that, help us. I want to go home because I currently live in a tent which is unsafe, I want my right as a young girl to conquer the world. It is my right to put my clothes in a closet instead of a placing them in wooden boxes. I want to put my plate of food in a refrigerator instead of leaving it out for the flies and insects. I want, and I want a lot. My home, Syria, gives me all of this. I want to return to you, Syria.”–Rama (below)

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“I miss my home and my fence, my trees and their fruits, my room, my toys.”-Raghab

“It is my right to live in peace.”(below)

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“It is my right to eat healthy foods.”(below)

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“It is my right to see a bird in the camp.”(below)

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“It is my right to breathe clean air.”(below)

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RI, with support from UNICEF, has been providing educational assistance to more than 6,500 children in both the Zaatari camp, Azraq camp, and host communities in Jordan. Through RI’s program, children attend math, science, and language classes to catch up and continue their education. They also receive psychosocial services to recover from their traumatic experiences in a safe environment, attending organized recreational activities such as sports, arts, drama, and chess. Most importantly, these activities promote a sense of normalcy by giving them the space and time to play as children.

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Above: Syrian children in class at RI’s remedial education center at the Zaatari refugee camp, Jordan. 

More information on RI’s work with Syrian refugees here.

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