Help the Syrian children!

Years of conflict have left deep marks on the streets of Damascus, yet the heaviest scars are often the ones hidden in the hearts and minds of the youngest. In a Syria still wrestling with economic hardship and the long-lasting echoes of war, children with disabilities and special needs face daily barriers that threaten to isolate them forever. It is here that the "Freedom Birds" center, supported by Pro Terra Sancta, offers a safe environment where rehabilitation goes beyond medical care, helping these children regain their independence and confidence.

Walaa al Balili is 27 years old and a specialist in Early Childhood Intervention. For four years, she has walked alongside these children, teaching them basic skills and guiding them toward integration. She vividly remembers how many of them started their journey: children who initially could not speak, who refused to sit down or participate in recreational activities, locked away in their own isolation. Today, her greatest joy is watching them make progress, compose their first words, write, and color alongside their peers. Even in her emotionally toughest moments, it is the smiles and positive energy of these children that give her the strength to keep going.

Beside her works Najwa Bayari, a 40-year-old communication officer who has put her background in Arabic literature at the service of children with special needs. For Najwa, this center is not just a job, but a deeply personal mission: her own daughter has a disability and is welcomed right here, surrounded by people who value her and make her feel safe, understood, and socially active. This shared experience allows Najwa to teach with her whole heart, offering the little ones and their families someone who truly understands them. Listening to the mothers is no longer a source of sadness and resignation; instead, it has become a challenge to overcome together, armed with patience and absolute determination.

At the "Freedom Birds" center continue to provide a comprehensive network of education, rehabilitation, and care:

• Rehabilitative and educational support: speech therapy sessions, teaching basic skills, writing, and drawing for children and youth with disabilities and special needs.

• Integration and recreational activities: engaging children in playful group activities, fostering active socialization and inclusion with their peers.

• Family accompaniment and empowerment: active listening and close collaboration with mothers, transforming shared grief and resignation into a powerful drive for determination.

But above all, we offer presence: a safe haven where these children feel understood, protected, and finally free to spread their wings toward tomorrow.