Protecting Childhood
Every child has the right to grow up in a safe, nurturing environment — and we all have the responsibility to ensure that happens. Through our Child Protection Program, active in both Syria and Türkiye, we worked to safeguard children facing the greatest risks. In 2024, we supported 5,980 children and caretakers in both Syria and Türkiye.
Take a moment to read the personal stories of five children below and learn more about our efforts.
Yousef’s story : Case Management
In a camp in Idlib, Yousef lives with his parents and three siblings. Since he was young, he had an issue with a shortened tendon in his leg which made walking difficult and attending school nearly impossible. Without a mobility aid or therapeutic support, he became increasingly isolated and emotionally withdrawn.
“Before, he couldn’t walk to school, and I used to carry him when I could, but it was hard for both of us. It broke my heart to see him watch other kids go to school while he stayed behind, feeling left out and sad.”
Yousef was identified by SARD to receive case management support. He was referred to our Child-Friendly Space for personalized psychosocial support and was also given crutches to help with his mobility. In parallel, we provided awareness sessions for his parents and financial assistance for them to purchase winter heating supplies, address some of their basic needs, and fund a necessary operation for Yousef.
“Now, with the crutches, he walks with confidence. He laughs and plays with the other children. He made friends, and you can see the happiness on his face... After the operation, he improved even more. ”
Today, Youssef is in a much better psychological and physical state. He’s now able to attend school on his own and engage with other kids his age.
Jana’s story : Child Friendly Space
For 14-year-old Jana, life in Sarmada camp, Syria, was marked not only by physical pain caused by thalassemia, but also by emotional scars from bullying and isolation. She had dropped out of school and withdrawn from the people around her.
That changed when Jana began attending SARD’s Child Friendly Space (CFS) — a safe and nurturing environment offering psychosocial support and the space to play.
“Before I started coming to the center, life felt really hard and boring. But everything changed when I joined the activities... I love this center with all my heart and I hope it stays open so I can keep coming back.”
Through art, storytelling, and peer connection, Jana rediscovered her confidence. Her story is a reminder of the healing impact that safe spaces and consistent support can have on children living through crisis.
“I used to be a top student, and now I feel ready to return to school. I want to continue my education and follow my dreams.”
Amjad’s story : Interim Alternative Care Center
After his father passed away and his mother remarried, Amjad at just 10 years old, found himself in an abusive household. He ran away and spent sometime at an orphanage before it closed down and he was referred to SARD’s Interim Alternative Care Center (IACC) in Azaz, Syria. He arrived in a very fragile state, both physically and emotionally.
“When I arrived at the SARD office, they asked me about my story and how I got here. Then they let me take a shower, and I immediately felt safe. I loved it there, I made friends, and the caretakers were very kind to us.”
Once Amjad entered the IACC, the caregivers and case workers focused on stabilizing his mental health. Through compassionate care, regular activities, and psycosocial support, he slowly began to heal. He engaged with other children, formed friendships, returned to school, and started rebuilding his sense of trust. Eventually, we gathered information to search for surviving family members, and after careful tracing, we finally located his maternal aunts and uncles. After several assessments of his aunt, and discussions with Amjad, we were able to reunite him with family.
SARD staff visiting Amjad at his new home, with his aunt.
“I finally feel safe and loved.”
His aunt added proudly: "Thank God, his life is now stable. Amjad often tells me that when he grows up, he dreams of becoming a lawyer, someone who defends vulnerable children like himself, children who once felt lost or forgotten. He remembers the hardships he faced as a child, and he wants to be the voice for those still going through the same struggles. The IACC truly changed his life. They stood by him, protected him, and gave him the chance to dream again, and for that, we are forever grateful."
Amira's story : Emergency Case Fund
In Northwest Syria, Amira, a 2-year-old girl from Aleppo, had a hearing impairment that left her unable to communicate with her family or respond to the world around her.
Thanks to the intervention of SARD’s Case Management team, she received a medical hearing aid and was enrolled in a speech rehabilitation center. These services didn’t just support Amira— they also guided her entire family on how to better understand and engage with her.
Today, Amira is more interactive, expressive, and connected. Her mother, once filled with fear for her daughter’s future, now speaks with hope and pride.
“I noticed a significant improvement in my daughter’s daily life after attending speech therapy sessions and I’ve been reassured about her ability to speak in the near future.”
Yazan’s story : Mobile Psychosocial Services
Ten-year-old Yazan*, a displaced child originally from the countryside of Aleppo, currently lives in a camp with his mother and siblings. Several years earlier, a devastating house fire destroyed their home, leaving them with nothing and leaving Yazan badly injured in the fire.
“When Yazan started school, the other children bullied him because of the way he looked. They mocked him, pointed at him, laughed at him. It broke my heart. He became withdrawn, isolated, and refused to go back to school. I watched him pull away more and more, not just at school, but at home, in the neighborhood, even around our relatives.”
The family did their best to support him, especially his mother and older brothers. When SARD began implementing mobile psychosocial support (PSS) sessions in the area, his mother signed him up right away.
“The facilitators noticed him right away. They showed him kindness, understood what he was going through. Slowly, I started seeing a change. He began attending the sessions several times a week, and the difference was incredible. Through these activities, he met children from the area. And day by day, they began to understand him, to play with him, to accept him. He would come home happy, telling me everything they did and how the facilitators praised him.”
During his sessions with SARD, another traumatic event occurred when the ceiling of Yazan’s house collapsed on him as a result of structural cracks caused by the 2023 February earthquakes. He was hospitalized due to the injuries. SARD staff visited him at the hospital to check on his condition and ensure he continued to receive psychological support during recovery. This event further reinforced the importance of consistent psychosocial support for children like Yazan, who face multiple layers of vulnerability.
Visiting Yazan in the hospital after the ceiling of his home collapsed on his head while playing.
“Thanks to the psychological support and the compassion of the facilitators, my son has been given a second chance at childhood.”
We invite you to support our child protection efforts in Syria and Türkiye.