Stories
A Future Unknown
A thick heavy cloud of fear hangs in the air like the growing humidity as Lebanon moves into the summer. The Syrian refugees have closed themselves in their homes only daring to go out for necessities. Every knock at the door, every siren heard they hold their breath… is it for us now?
General Security officials are raiding illegal businesses run by Syrians closing 500 this last Saturday. Many individuals who are here illegally are “voluntarily” leaving. The pressure is growing.
Roads and areas that used to have many people walking now seem almost deserted all over the country. Many Syrians are moving to the north in hopes that the Sunni population there will be less likely to expel them.
Our school in Zahle remains closed since last week and will not reopen for the last weeks of the school year. Even if we did open, they wouldn’t come. The teachers and families are too afraid to leave their homes and so we’ve moved the last couple weeks to be within the camps like we did during covid.
We are also fighting and working for our 9th graders. The group that goes each year to test in Syria is now in question. The group was supposed to leave Friday (May 24th). We are attempting to make sure that after going to test that they will be able to return. Many of the families are scared. Some question whether they want to send the children even with the permissions given.
Though the times are hard we are continuing to work to help. These children never asked to be a part of politics they just want to study and to dream. We are dedicated to them that they would be able to do this not only for their own future but for the future of Syria. When they do return, they can be a force of change for the future there.
