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