As we begin a new year, there is no lull in the fighting in Syria yet, and civilians remain the first victims of this conflict. NGOs are also facing growing difficulties and restrictions on the ground. Télécoms Sans Frontières is no longer authorised to continue its mLearning program with displaced children from Azaz and Alsalame schools.
TSF is adapting to the situation by reorganising its programmes and establishing itself in new centres. In collaboration with World Vision, we are now working in three Child Friendly Spaces and three Women's Empowerment Centers in the Alsalama, Alnour and Jibrin IDP camps.
Thanks to digital educational resources, our Syrian teachers provide educational and recreational activities for children and young women in three centres. These activities are open to out-of-school children or those who have been enrolled in a school but need support because of interruptions to their schooling. Our attention is also focused on the empowerment of girls and women with quality education as the key to this.
596 displaced or refugee children benefit from interactive tablet-based courses in Arabic, Mathematics and English, whilst various educational activities are provided in order to develop their creativity. In parallel, 90 girls and women attend our sessions dedicated to literacy skills, languages and Internet awareness. In total, 686 people currently benefit from this programme.
Since 2013, TSF has been committed to continue supporting the education of Syrian children. School dropout can have drastic consequences on lives, bringing about social issues such as early marriage, forced labour and enrolment in armed groups and forces. The centres for children that we support contribute to provide what war alienates them: an environment of discovery and learning in safe conditions.
The front lines being now closer to the camps where TSF conducts its activities; the safety of our staff as well as our beneficiaries remains a priority.