Ali’s* story is sadly common in Syria. The war and earthquakes have devastated the country leaving many families displaced and in poor living conditions.
Ali is a 14-year-old boy from Deir Ezzor, who grew up in a large family struggling with the hardships of the Syrian war.
After his father’s death, Ali made the life-altering decision to leave his widowed mother and siblings and travel to Damascus in search of work.
He found shelter with his uncle and began collecting waste materials to sell, a job that exposed him to dangerous environments and the risk of arrest – to the point that he was arrested twice as the police wrongly thought he was hiding robbed materials in the bag he is always carrying to work.
But Ali is no thief – all he wants to do is support his family back home.
Last year, Ali joined JRS’ educational programme in Jaramana, attending on Fridays—the only day he wasn’t working – with other children in the same condition.
Initially, he struggled to connect with others, believing that no one cared for him. His behaviour reflected his isolation, and he often clashed with both tutors and fellow students. He lacked basic reading and writing skills, and his work as a waste collector had made him anxious and mistrustful of others.
However, as time passed, Ali began to open up and slowly built trust with the tutors, started helping them in class, and took their guidance to heart.
Despite his limited time at the centre, he made significant progress. Even though he was attending JRS’ centre for only a few hours a week, he learnt to read, write, and do basic math to protect himself from being exploited. His confidence grew, and he developed a sense of responsibility not only for his family but also for his peers at the centre.
This Christmas you can support children like, Ali, keep warm as Syria’s temperatures plummets.
By purchasing a winter kit, vulnerable children will receive: a winter jacket, hat, scarf, pants, shoes, T-shirt and a jumper, all bought from the local market.
This gift saves lives and protects children like, Ali, from the elements as he seeks to support his family.
Do something amazing and give a gift that truly changes lives!
* names have been changed for privacy.