Aleppo Children's University brings aid to children living in extremely adverse conditions. The situation in Syria is deteriorating again. Please scroll down for a handful of news from Aleppo put together for our donors – founders of the University.
News of the escalating wave of violence in Syria, the persecution of minorities and the resumption of large-scale military action has filled us with great concern for the fate of the charges of our Children's University in Aleppo. For the past six years, we have been offering educational and psychological support in the war-ravaged city, working with children's families and celebrating, each year, alongside over a hundred graduates of our courses (this year, they will be 168!). The University keeps working, despite a series of successive crises. Is it in danger? We are sure that our donors, founders of the University, ask themselves the same question.
We asked our colleague and aid programme coordinator in Aleppo:
In several parts of Syria, including the coastal city of Latakia, there is bloody fighting between different factions after the fall of the central government, and there are many civilian casualties. This weekend has been edgy in Aleppo, as everyone fears that the fighting in nearby Latakia could reach our city, especially given that a part of Aleppo belongs to the Kurds, another minority. Fortunately, nothing of the sort has happened so far.
The situation in Aleppo
The Children's University pursues its work and continues to help children, despite the massive wave of emigration, the raging economic crisis, lacks in access to water and electricity, and the worsening humanitarian crisis. According to the Council of Europe, 16.5 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance and more than half of the population has no permanent access to water. With 12.9 million of its population being in need of food aid, Syria is the fourth most food insecure country in the world. It is estimated that the situation in the country has set back economic development by 40 years, and educational neglect and its consequences are difficult to assess.
With this scale of livelihood problems, the prevalence of violence and the constant threat to security, the University has had to focus more on the psychological wellbeing of children. Last year, despite increasing attendance problems (for many children, the journey to class is a great danger, and in 2024, University coordinators took care of their transport) and migration (some children and caregivers had to leave), we brought our course to a close, with 168 children (79 girls and 89 boys) receiving their diplomas. This is a great pride and success for us!
What kinds of help are needed?
Our aid programme in Aleppo has been running for six years. It is continued solely thanks to the generosity of donors who actively and regularly support this form of aid. The University's staff strive to respond to new threats and surround the children with care regardless of events in the city. Every zloty donated to the Aleppo relief effort will be used to provide educational and psychological support and ensure the necessary safety of the children.
We will keep you updated on the situation in Syria as soon as we receive news from our colleagues.
If you would like to support Aleppo Children's University and its students, you can do so ONLINE on our fundraising page (you can also use the form below this text) or donate directly to the account:
Recipient’s name: Fundacja Świętego Mikołaja
Account number: 64 2130 0004 2001 0299 9993 0001
with the note: Aleppo
