Meet Amira, a girl whose childhood was taken from her by bombs and bullets. After fleeing her home in Syria due to the ongoing war, Amira became a child refugee.
“For years now, we have been living in tents in this place called a refugee camp,” Amira says.
Despite escaping the hardships of war, life is still difficult for Amira. She often daydreams about the beautiful home she left behind and the smell of her mom’s cooking when her stomach rumbles with hunger.
At the campsite, Amira doesn’t have to worry about the dangers that tormented her at home. But during the cold winter, the wind blows through the temporary tent at night, and during the summer, there is little relief from the scorching heat.
“We have limited access to food, clean water, sanitation, and healthcare,” Amira shares.
Amira is also years behind in school due to her challenging life as a refugee and not having consistent access to an education system. She misses the walks to school that she used to take with her friends at home. The only choice Amira and children like her have for any kind of education are makeshift schools that are built out of blue and white tarps. Even though the situation is less than ideal and supplies are limited, Amira enjoys attending because she gets to see her friends.
“When I am with my friends, I can forget all the things that make me sad,” she says.
Amira feels that her opportunity to achieve a bright future is in jeopardy, and the hope and memories she holds close seem to be slipping away, and she isn’t the only one. Today, along with Amira, nearly 37 million children were forced to flee their homes because of war, persecution, and violence. ADRA is committed to supporting the rights and well-being of all refugee and displaced children, men and women alike.
