Back to School Campaign opens a future without barriers for Yassin and the displaced children in Syria

For children like Yassin*, life has always been an uphill battle. Born with lower limb paralysis, he navigated a world not built for him—a world where doorways, stairs, and even the simplest paths were obstacles rather than opportunities. Yet, despite every challenge, his determination remained unshaken.

Growing up, Yassin watched other children rush off to school each morning, their backpacks swinging as they laughed and played. He longed to join them, to sit in a classroom, to learn, to dream. But for years, the lack of accessible facilities turned his dream into an unreachable goal.

Like many children with disabilities in Syria—28% of whom face mobility or developmental challenges—Yassin encountered a harsh reality: schools were not designed for him. Entrances were too high, toilets were inaccessible, and the very structure of the learning environment excluded him. His right to education, recognised in international agreements, remained an unfulfilled promise.

Yassin’s mother, a devoted teacher, did everything she could to include him in the world of education. Since he couldn’t enrol in school, he accompanied her to her workplace—a girls’ school run by World Vision Syria Response. Though surrounded by books and lessons, Yassin felt out of place. “I was happy to be near learning, but I wanted to be with my friends,” he recalls.

His eagerness to learn encouraged his mother to continue searching for options where he could thrive. When she heard that World Vision Syria Response was working to improve accessibility in a boys’ school, she held on to hope. Soon after, she delivered the long-awaited news to her son: he would finally be able to attend school, just like every other child.

“I was thrilled when my mother told me I could go to school with my friends,” Yassin beams.

The school underwent crucial modifications—ramps replaced stairs, classrooms were adapted, and accessible restrooms were installed. Yassin also received a wheelchair, ensuring he could move freely and comfortably. For the first time, education was within his reach.

With the launch of a “Back to Learning” campaign, Yassin and thousands of other children returned to school, eager to embrace the opportunities that had long been out of grasp. Parents were engaged, teachers trained, and psychological support workers provided to help children adjust.

Yassin flourished. Surrounded by friends, he found joy not only in lessons but in the community that embraced him. “I didn’t want the holidays to come—I was so happy at school,” he says.

Thanks to support from the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund (SCHF), 20,000 children have received educational services and psychological care. Yet, many more still wait for the chance that Yassin was given. The road to inclusion is long, but every child deserves the right to walk—or roll—towards their future.

As Syria begins to rebuild, stories like Yassin’s serve as a beacon of hope. The road ahead is challenging, but the resilience of its people is unwavering. The future must be one where no child is left behind, where schools open their doors to all, and where dreams, long deferred, finally take flight. A new beginning is within reach—one built on inclusion, education, and the belief that every child deserves a future.

*Name changed to protect identity.

Stories and photos by Communications Officer Zaher Jaber and Communications & MEC Public Engagement Senior Advisor Karla Harvey