The Syrian people have always cared deeply about education. For families in Syria, gaining access to accessible, top-quality education has long ranked high as a priority. Parents are willing to make great sacrifices to ensure their children can attend school, but despite their many efforts, the conflict –now in its eleventh year– has made it nearly an impossible dream. 

According to our sources in northwest Syria, which we are keeping anonymous to protect their safety, over a third of schools have been destroyed by shelling, primarily from Russian forces. The violence has spread fear among teachers, forcing many to leave Syria and travel abroad in search of safety. The few teachers that remain in northwest Syria often work without economic compensation, all while risking their lives. 

The brave Syrian children still attending school expend substantial energy traveling to the few distant schools that remain open, also risking their own lives. Thousands of school children reside in camps located far away to even the closest schools. These camps are often targets of shelling by armed forces –almost