IDLIB, SYRIA, January 23, 2020 — Baitulmaal field workers recently finished installing gas stove heaters for around 560 students in three schools inside war-torn Syria.
According to the Assistance Coordination Unit “Schools in Syria” report, parents are reluctant to send their children to school because many schools in Syria are poorly equipped or damaged from the conflict. This leaves children at risk of losing interest in education, which may significantly limit their opportunities later in life.
An estimated 2.1 million children and youth no longer attend school in Syria because of the ongoing civil war. Roughly 3.3 million who do attend school need educational assistance.
Before the war, Syria had a good educational system. By 2011, 91% of children ages 6 to 11 were enrolled in school. By 2015, that rate plummeted to 37% because of the war (source: UNESCO).
Baitulmaal representatives said such educational support makes a significant, positive impact for Syrian children struggling to survive and thrive amidst the conflict.
“When schools don’t have heaters to warm the classrooms, students are either less likely to attend or they have difficulty concentrating,” said Elizabeth Sohail, Programs Manager for Baitulmaal. “These new heaters are bringing new life into these classrooms and hope for over 500 students in Syria.”
Sohail said Baitulmaal previously delivered another school-support aid package of solar power systems and computers for schools inside Syria. She said anyone interested in supporting this effort can do so through the Baitulmaal website at baitulmaal.org/donate.
Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Dallas, the charity has offices in Los Angeles, Chicago and Detroit as well as international offices in Jordan, Kenya and Pakistan.
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Help heat schools for Syrian students.