Defying Limits, Bayan’s Tale of Resilience amid Disability and Displacement

Imagine the experiences and emotions when your basic right slips through your fingers, solely because of a condition entirely beyond your control.

Children with Disability (CwD), are one of the most vulnerable segments of any communities, grappling with numerous difficulties such as higher exposure to violence, exploitation, negative stigma and lack of access to many fundamental rights such as education.

 1 in 3 internally displaced Syrians lives with a Disability  yet they still suffer to acquire education with over 54% of Syrian CwD not attending school. The lack of suitable school facilities and skilled teachers is one of the many barriers they face only adding to the issues stemming from their refugee status.

Bayan*, a 10-year-old Syrian girl with Down syndrome, who despite her young age, has navigated through numerous challenges over the course of years. This is Her Story.

Bayan and her family originally living in middle-class Aleppo had their entire world shattered by heavy bombardment, turning their once-peaceful neighborhood into a field of rubble. The family found themselves caught in the midst of the brutal Syrian Conflict that rapidly escalated. The echoes of bombings and the looming threat of danger compelled them to abandon their cherished home, a place filled with memories woven into its walls and the warmth of familiarity. With heavy hearts, they embarked on a distressing journey, seeking refuge and safety in the wake of uncertainty, eventually settling in a town in northwestern Syria in 2016.

But even after all the struggles they faced with conflict and displacement, their life remained a far cry from being decent. The father, Mohammed, described how his life was turned upside down, “Before the conflict and displacement, I used to be self-employed, making good money to support my family’s necessities, now I work tirelessly and still securing even the most fundamental requirements such as shelter and sustenance is a continuous harsh battle”.

However Little Bayan’s moving Journey Inspired the Whole Family to persevere.

This year, In the face of adversity, hope appeared on the horizon when Bayan's mother registered Bayan and two of her sisters in our partner, Action For Humanity’s Child-Friendly Space with the goal of participating in their Psychosocial Support Activities (PSS), focusing particularly on Bayan's well-being, personal growth, and overcoming the challenges her health condition posed. Bayan’s heartbroken Mother, Samia*, discussed her daughter’s condition before getting appropriate care, “At first, she was so isolated, lost in her own world. Those connections that most people effortlessly forge were like distant stars to her. She used to ask her sister to accompany her to school and many days she didn’t attend due to her poor health and fright from strangers. It was heartbreaking for me as a mother to whiteness my little girl struggle”.

One of our Partner’s skilled facilitators, after carefully assessing her condition, registered Bayan for the psychosocial support activities offered in the Child-Friendly Space to obtain the necessary care. Though she encountered initial difficulties integrating and communicating with her peers during sessions, Bayan's determination shone through.

 With the facilitators full support and care, Bayan became  persistent with her attendance and active participation in various interactive activities, she began to absorb information and engage positively with the facilitators and her peers. Despite her speech difficulties, she grew more independent in implementing activities, no longer needing to lean on her sister for support. The change in Bayan's demeanor didn't go unnoticed by the moderators either. They shared, “We witnessed her newfound confidence, observing her becoming more adept at interacting with others, and displaying increased activity on psychological and social levels”.

This transformation extended to her behavior at home, noticed by her loving mother who expressed, “I saw her blossom into a more vibrant and communicative child, eagerly participating in the activities, our happiness is immense”.

The Integrated Emergency Health, Nutrition, Protection, and WASH project funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by World Vision Syria Response partners’, Action For Humanity and SEMA, is expected to serve over 176 thousand beneficiaries till April of 2024 . Action For Humanity specializing in Protection and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services helped transform thousands of Lives, persisting every day.

Bayan's story highlights the positive influence of psychosocial support activities and a nurturing environment on a child with Disability, allowing her to overcome challenges and become more integrated and connected with her peers, family and society as a whole.

*Name has been changed to protect identity