RTPChildren in Crisis
She was only 12 years old when bright-eyed and full of life Soorya was forced to flee her home in Syria to find safety in Lebanon. The ordeal took a toll.
Due to all the horrible things she saw, she screamed and cried for so long, she lost her voice for a week. When she got it back, it wasn't the same.
When she tried to express herself, she stuttered.
War didn’t just destroy her home. It destroyed her hopes, dreams and ambitions. It destroyed her childhood.
The reality is that Soorya is only one of millions of children who have been stripped of their childhood by war. The children of the Syria crisis have not only been forced to leave their bedrooms, toys and favourite playgrounds behind, they have been separated from family and friends, face ongoing violence and live without structure or access to education for months and years.
Since the fighting broke out in 2011, some 1.2 million Syrians have registered as refugees in Lebanon and more than 629,000 are now in Jordan. As the numbers continue to rise, this emergency is quickly becoming a crisis of education, identity and childhood.
This is the legacy that will haunt us most: a generation scarred by mental and physical trauma, who are without education.
We can give them hope.
Of the 4 million Syrians now living as refugees in neighbouring countries and throughout Europe, more than half are children.
How can play help child refugees?
Play is a powerful tool for improving children's education and building peaceful communities. It encourages inclusion, teaches conflict-resolution and creates an opportunity for learning. In a crisis situation, it helps children express themselves, relieve stress and avoid being discouraged by what's going on around them.
"Don't underestimate games and jumping and think they are silly. They are very important. It allows a person to let out feelings that haven't been expressed before." - Razan Amer, Teacher (Lebanon)
SUPPORT IN THE MIDDLE EAST
For Soorya and millions like her, Right To Play programs offer an alternative to the confusion and instability of life as a refugee. They provide structure in refugee camps and unite communities that are not accustom to each other. When communication breaks down, play becomes a universal language.
With 10 years of experience working in the Middle East, Right To Play has long played a proven, trusted role in local communities and refugee settings, providing displaced children with emotional support and quality education through sports, games and activities.
In Lebanon, we are not only helping incoming refugees, but also local children and host communities dealing with an extreme influx of people and tensions. Our sport- and play-based programs are improving access to quality education and provide psychosocial support to Syrian refugees and local children affected by the crisis to enhance peaceful coexistence. Since 2013, we've adapted our programs in Lebanon and Jordan to address the Syrian refugee crisis.
Today, we have reached more than 27,400 Syrian children and youth living in Lebanon through weekly play programs and trained more than 920 local teachers and volunteer community members as Right To Play Coaches.
We know that once war and survival are no longer the most imminent threat for a refugee child, we must turn our attention to aiding their recovery from the trauma experienced and overcome the unique new challenges they face as refugees.
That's why we have developed our expertise in supporting child refugees. We have also built a legacy of trust with local authorities, organizations and stakeholders--we not only work with communities, but become community members. It allows us to expand and adapt our programs to reach some of the populations most affected by this crisis, many of whom are not living in official refugee camps.
"I have never in my life encountered children with such joy in their hearts despite the circumstances they are passing through. I can't even put into words this feeling, but I know it’s breathtaking."
- Yasmine, Syrian Refugee & Right To Play Coach
Through play, Soorya transformed almost overnight.
After five months of participating in play programs at a local community organization in Lebanon, where Right To Play has trained Coaches to support young refugees for years, her stuttering decreased, her self-confidence increased, she expressed herself well and had positive interactions with her friends.
Changing the behaviour of one child inspires others to make positive change in their communities. Learning to settle disagreements with tolerance and words, and to accept one another in spite of differences, is where re-building a child's life begins.
We believe every child refugee should have the right to an educated, healthy and safe childhood, free of violence and conflict.
