Child Refugee Crisis

Thank you for supporting Save the Children's Child Refugee Crisis fund! Here is a story about a child in our programs in Syria:

SUPPORTING DISPLACED FAMILIES – LUJAIN’S STORY

Since 2011, more than 6.8 million Syrians have been forced to flee their country and another 6.9 million people remain internally displaced. One of the children forced to flee violence is Lujain*, 11, who fled heavy bombardment with her mother, father and five siblings until they finally settled in a displacement camp.

"We left the house under heavy bombing. We were displaced without taking anything," Lujain shared with us. Lujain’s family now lives in a camp supported by a Save the Children partner organization: Shafak and Violet.

Thanks to supporters like you, we've been able to provide Lujain's family with essential supplies, including food and clean water

Lujain also attends one of our Child Friendly Spaces in the camp. Our Child Friendly Spaces provide children (especially girls) safe access to recreational activities, free and structured play and opportunities for creative expression and stress relief. These spaces also serve as a critical entry point for identifying children who need individualized support - either through our child protection case management system or psychosocial support programs.

Lujain loves playing football (soccer) outside with other children living in the displacement camp, including her cousins and friends. She says that she feels happy playing football and, if given the chance to play with a professional, she would choose Cristiano Ronaldo. She wants to watch the World Cup, but the family doesn’t have access to a television.

In the future, Lujain* hopes to become a doctor and for everyone affected by the conflict in Syria to be happy and safe.

*name changed to protect identity

Links:

• Save the Children - Syria
• Save the Children - Child Refugee Crisis

Thank you for supporting Save the Children's Child Refugee Crisis fund! With your help, we are able to reach refugees around the world. Today, 27 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict and persecution. At a time when half of the world's refugees are children, our work to help child refugees is more important than ever.

Here is the story of a refugee child in our programs:

Harriet*'s Story: "I'm going to change the world!"

Harriet* is a 14-year-old girl living in the Bidi Bidi refugee settlement in Northern Uganda. Her family fled South Sudan when the sound of gunshots came to their village. Harriet only brought a handful of belongings with her: a radio, a yellow dress and her school uniform.

When Harriet’s family was forced to flee South Sudan, she feared she’d never return to school. But then she joined Save the Children’s Accelerated Learning Program for child refugees — and her education took off.

Now, Harriet’s caught up on the education she missed and is doing brilliantly in school. She’s even been chosen as Head Girl by the other pupils. This top student is determined to become a lawyer and make life better for people in South Sudan.

“I’m going to change the world!” she says.

Harriet’s working hard to create opportunities for other girls, too. By writing songs and plays about gender equality, she’s changing the world’s perception of what girls can do. It’s clear that Harriet’s building a bright future — and not just for herself.

Save the Children's Refugee Crisis Response

For over 100 years, Save the Children has worked tirelessly to provide refugees with lifesaving aid, improved access to education, quality health care and protection from harm. With 26 million men, women, and children now forced to flee their home countries due to conflict and persecution, it's more important than ever to take action to help improve the lives of refugees.