Testimonials

Joined September 2020

As an aspiring teacher, I am passionate about helping kids reach their full potential. When I learned that Syrian Kids Foundation aligns with this passion by offering free education to Syrian refugees, I immediately wanted to become a volunteer. Now, as Social Media Manager, my main goal is to reach a broader audience and spread our mission, which is one of education and peace. Joining this organization has shown me that there is power in numbers. The more support the foundation gets, the more we can give children the opportunity to grow. As someone who was born and raised in Canada, I had only visited Syria a few times growing up. Being so far away from my roots, I felt powerless and did not know how I could help. Syrian Kids Foundation has taught me that no matter where I am in the world, there is always something I can do to contribute to a cause I hold dear to my heart.

Joined January 2015

I first heard about SKF at an event held by the Syrian Students’ Association at McGill University in 2015. I was a new undergrad student at the time and I was so excited to join an organization that supports Syrian refugees, as I am Syrian myself and I was deeply affected by the ongoing war. I started by organizing and participating in weekly bake sales to raise funds for AlSalam School. My work then quickly grew to include recruiting new volunteers, organizing events on campus including our annual gala, presenting our work at info sessions, and supporting our social media platforms. 

Fast forward to 2021, I am currently a Ph.D. student in the US but I continue to work with this amazing organization remotely. I aim to welcome our new volunteers, support them in their experience, and help them achieve their goals. Whatever your skillset is: tutoring English, graphic design, social media marketing, grant-writing, even data analytics, we are always looking for committed volunteers that are passionate about helping Syrian children. Email me at skf.outreach@syriankids.ca to join our growing team!

I joined the SKF when I was a university student, around 2013. I have to correlate things with what was going on in Syria, because I was very upset with what was going on in my country. It was very difficult to accept these events. I went through a mentality switch from 2012 through 2014. I became a more rational person. I was always concerned with the latest emergency and making fundraising plans for it. Any emergency would catch my attention. But if you watch the news, every moment is an emergency, which is very sad, but it’s true. You have to kind of look away and focus on what you have to do so you can actually contribute. We’ve seen a lot of opportunities emerge and a lot of organisations collapse and I have been a part of many of them. Some of our ideas were good but we often wouldn’t have the time and resources to go through with them. We need something that focuses on the long term. Fundraising could be beneficial, in no way I am undermining their efforts, emergency level is very important. But it’s someone else’s specialty, not mine. My specialty, or really what would have kept me sane would have been to contribute in a positive way, but away from the noise and the emergency. I just wanted something tangible and long term and sustainable. The SKF was doing exactly this. They focused on how they could see the next five years and they looked terrible. I stopped believing in giants like the UN, I wanted something local, something I could put a face on.

When I think of SKF, I think of my friends, I think of the founders who are very dear friends I think of my involvement with the SKF. You have to find something that you’d willingly be able to do on the weekends. That’s SKF for me. When they were thinking about school, they weren’t thinking about merely recycling the Syrian education system, but rather they were thinking about ways to actually benefit these students in a constructive way. This aspect really touched me, because I feel like for the first time, I understand the notion of a borderless world or a borderless education. This isn’t just an experiment you’re doing, you are breaking boundaries by exposing children to amazing opportunities. I really don’t want to sound spiteful when I say this but maybe you would have even experienced greater learning than you would with the Syrian educational system. Education exposes children to values that any Syrian would want to have in their country. Education teaches you about democracy, and teaching you about being a citizen through having elections and class representatives or little microcosms of democracy as in Al Salam School. Early marriages for girls and forced conscription for boys are societal ills that will only be solved through education. At the same time, it’s important to focus on both emergency relief as well as long term solutions. There’s always funding for bombs and war, but there is never funding for schools and education. This was all very attractive as a concept to me.

As for what motivated me to become a tutor, I’ve done it at university as both a job and a hobby. I firmly believe that knowledge should be shared rather than being kept to yourself.

Joined November 2020

As a member of the Syrian Students Association, SKF is an organization we work closely with as they share similar goals and the willingness to help those back home in Syria. In the start, I chose to solely volunteer to strengthen the bond between the two organizations and help connect university students with students from Al Salam School to help them practice their English and take their English Proficiency Exam at the end of their school year. Within a few days, as someone with an Education background, I felt a strong urge to do more and volunteer in a larger capacity which is why I decided to become a volunteer and put the knowledge I am privileged to have gained throughout my life into practice. Becoming a tutor in my opinion did not mean simply teaching students English but rather taking the skills they already have and finding a way to apply them. Throughout the previous months, I have learnt about how great these students are being able to not only speak Arabic but multiple languages due to finding refuge in a new country and learning that language. I found out quickly I was working with such intelligent learners that taking these English Exams was only a small hurdle compared to everything they’ve been through and one I know they can proudly accomplish with some help. As these exams are crucial for their academic journey, students are filled with motivation and are only looking for a helping hand to apply their knowledge of English in formats that will be tested by the TOEFL and IELTS exams. My goal throughout this experience is to make taking these exams as swift as possible by familiarizing students with questions they might see as well as creating a positive environment where students find joy and thrill in learning English rather than feel like it is another task on their mind. 

As a Syrian who has lived abroad their whole life, I have found that working with SKF and these students is a beautiful way to connect to home. Being able to practice speaking English by talking about our culture and traditions has made me see how truly connected Syrians are no matter where we are located. As I mentioned, every person needs a helping hand no matter what stage or age they are which is something SKF offers. Working alongside such a hardworking team has been an honour and I am incredibly thankful for their work to Syrians and children who will be our future. To further motivate one to join the SKF, it’s really simple, “knowledge that is not shared is lost knowledge”, so do your part and help those who need it.

Joined December 2020

Being the president of the Syrian Student Association at Concordia University has shown me the importance of consolidating our effort together for a greater outcome. So, volunteering at Syrian Kids Foundation was the perfect opportunity to add our resources and work towards a significant cause. Furthermore, providing opportunities for vulnerable people has always inspired me to volunteer in an organization like SKF, as they provide accessible education through Al-salam School and private tutoring (shoutout to my sister Jana). When you hear these heartening stories of students excelling in their fields after graduating from Al-salam school you cannot help but wonder what more can you do. Lastly, the great teamwork and dedication of the volunteers at Syrian Kids Foundation have always motivated me to strive for a better future.

Joined June 2021

Ron Conway once said, “Giving back creates a virtuous cycle that makes everyone more successful”. As someone who was tutored by Syrian Kids Foundation’s amazing volunteers, it is my responsibility to pass on the good deed to my fellow Syrian students. If by doing so, I can help one student have a better future, my goal will be fulfilled. This organization’s positive outlook on the refugee crisis has created an ideal environment for students to learn, grow, and potentially give back to their community.