We caught up with Amina and Raabiya, young SKF volunteers who recently visited Al Salam School in Reyhanli, Turkey for Ramadan. They spoke to us about how they came to volunteer with the charity, their warm impressions of the students and staff they met on their trip, their motivation for volunteering, and their hopes for the school’s future. In sharing their stories, Amina and Raabiya hope to provide valuable insights into where the foundation’s resources and efforts are going, as well as encourage potential volunteers to join in our progress.
At the top of Mount Snowdon, during a climb in support of Palestinian and Syrian refugees, Amina first heard about the Syrian Kids Foundation. She heard from a former teacher in their group that SKF hosted a program where volunteers worldwide could virtually tutor Syrian refugee students in English, and Amina was eager to join upon returning to London. After 6 months of tutoring Syrian refugee children on the weekends, the opportunity arose to visit Al Salam School in person. Raabiya, who Amina met through social justice work with Friends of Al-Aqsa, and their friend Rayane, were equally motivated to join the trip, and so the planning began.
With a background in childcare and a degree in international relations and media, Amina was drawn to Al Salam School because she saw a long-term sustainable project in support of the education and mental well-being of children of war. She’s familiar with how mainstream media often encourages short bursts of humanitarian assistance after tragic events, but neglects to portray the complementary need for support beyond basic necessities. She, like many SKF volunteers, believes that this kind of support can drive a generation disadvantaged and traumatized by war to build their own future, rather than growing reliant on others.
For Raabiya, she admires how SKF leverages international resources and efforts to teach an international language, all the while maintaining the children’s Arabic and Syrian roots. Raabiya reminds us that a familiar warm community can make a great difference for children who may have lost their homes, families, and subsequently their identities at such an impressionable age.
After a successful fundraising campaign to provide a Ramadan iftar and small gifts for the students, Raabiya and Amina embarked on their 3-day visit. On the first day, they engaged the students in Ramadan preparations, workshops on the holiday’s significance, icebreakers, and a treasure hunt (to complete puzzles of the volunteers’ faces!). On the second day, the first night of Ramadan, the women visited several families along the Syrian-Turkish border to distribute donations and food vouchers. On the last day, the volunteers hosted a special iftar at the school, celebrated its official recognition in Turkey with the community, and ended with a games night of musical chairs and Quran competitions. With so many game ideas prepared, they only managed to play two because of how excited and engaged the students were!
Amina and Raabiya agreed that a major highlight of their trip was the love, passion and effort of the Al Salam School staff and community. Whether it was their hospitality, level of planning and coordination, or their emotional connections with the students, the women expressed how each individual member regularly assumed a collective responsibility to ensure the students’ day was memorable and educational. Amina recalled Mr. Maher, who fervidly empowered girls hesitant to make Battle of Badr craft swords to break gender stereotypes. Raabiya spoke of Ali, a bright and enthusiastic student who helped set up activities and translate between the English, Arabic and Turkish he knew, and his family, who helped prepare such a generous iftar that each student could bring some food home to their families. The volunteers also noted the maintenance, janitorial, and security staff, who worked hard, late shifts to keep the building running and the large volume of students safe.
After their trip and witnessing first-hand where all the fundraising is going, Amina and Raabiya are deeply invested in the foundation’s progress and have many ideas for further improving its impact. Among them include summer workshops, community-bonding day trips to neighboring cities, expanding Al Salam’s on-site farm to encourage students’ well-being and extracurricular learning, and integrating volunteers’ diverse professional and educational backgrounds – whether they be in psychology, medicine, dentistry, or otherwise – to expand students’ access and benefit. For example, as Amina and Raabiya pursue Master’s degrees in speech and language therapy and psychotherapy, respectively, they can share valuable techniques they learn with the Al Salam staff to spread the privilege of their modern education.
Asked what they would do for SKF given more funds, the women agreed that expanding the infrastructure’s capacity and enrolling students off Al Salam’s extremely long waitlist is a priority. They noted that many local families had waitlisted children or siblings taking turns attending, and expansion would not only afford these children (most still young, aged 7 to 15) a consistent on-site education, but also Internet access to connect virtually with tutors and critical resources.
As for any final insights these volunteers have for SKF supporters who have not visited Al Salam School in person, Raabiya emphasized how 100% of funds raised for SKF go directly to the children, who are bright, curious and worldly minds, fascinated with international people and experiences outside their regional bubble at the border. “These children are so bright,” she says, “They are so willing to learn, and they know a lot already. There’s no doubt when they do get older they will become really powerful individuals. When I was with them, all I saw was life, hope, and laughter.”
Finally, Amina wished to amplify the children’s awareness and gratitude for everyone, both behind the scenes and on the front lines, working together from all corners of the world to help secure their future. In the words of Shaam, a student who wrote a special note thanking the volunteers, “I believe you are the most important and responsible members of society. Because of your professional efforts, you affect the fates of the earth.”
