Cate Blanchett travelled to Lebanon with UNHCR where she met Ahmad, a Syrian refugee who was celebrating his 14th birthday.  Ahmad was one of a group of young refugees acting in a drama at a community centre they attend.  He was an A grade student back home, but is currently not in education and working full time at a bakery to help support his family.  However Ahmad remains positive, hoping to return home and one day fulfil his dream of becoming an airline pilot.

Ahmad, 14 years old: “My name is Ahmad, and I work as a (sweets) baker, and when I grow up I want to be an airplane pilot and travel the whole world. One year ago, I heard about Intersos* and started attending activities at the center. I discovered that I really like acting, and with a group of friends I met at Intersos, we created a play about early marriage, since this is a problem in our communities. The play was very successful, and we performed it three times in front of a live audience. We were really nervous the first time, but then we got used to having an audience. We are now developing our theatre group, and we’re working on a play about child labor that we wish to perform all over the world.”

*NGO Intersos is an implementing partner of UNHCR

Ahmad and his family enjoyed a comfortable life in Syria. Ahmad speaks fondly of his house and garden, his friends, playing on his computer. He loved school, especially studying maths and Arabic. But then war came. “I saw many people who were injured….I know them, and I really like them, they were injured and died.” Ahmad and his family came to Lebanon to find safety, bringing virtually nothing with them. “When I came to Lebanon…everything changed for me…I have to work to help my family…I don’t go to school because I help my family.” Ahmad now works in a bakery, decorating and selling cakes. He realises it will be some time before he can return to Syria. “I was very upset when I found out I could not go back to Syria. It was like losing someone you really care about.”

But Ahmad still retains his hopes and dreams. “I hope that I can go back to my education; I can become a pilot and travel to all the countries in the world.” He has also forged new friendships at a community centre run by UNHCR partner Intersos. “At this centre, I made friends with eleven people, boys and girls… My friends here come from Damascus, Idlib and Aleppo….they come from different areas, and I really like them”

Cate Blanchett, Andrew Upton (artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company) and Firas Abi Ghanem of UNHCR’s partner NGO Intersos celebrate Ahmad’s 14th birthday with him in his family’s small shelter.(c)UNHCR/J.Matas/2015

Ahmad, 14, came to Lebanon with his family in 2014. Due to the conflict in Syria he is unable to return home. Ahmad does not attend school and currently works in a bakery, helping to prepare and sell cakes. (c)UNHCR/J.Matas/2015

Ahmad and his family now live in a small shelter provided by a local charity.(c)UNHCR/J.Matas/2015

Ahmad now works in a bakery owned by his great uncle, Jihad. Previously Ahmad had three other jobs but left as he felt exploited. Although he would rather be in school, Ahmad feels it is important he helps contribute to his family’s meagre income. He takes pride in his work and feels he is learning a useful trade.(c)UNHCR/J.Matas/2015

Ahmad sells cakes to a passing customer. He works every day.(c)UNHCR/J.Matas/2015

Cate Blanchett with Ahmad at the Mazboud Community Centre, Chouf, Lebanon. Ahmad is part of a group of young Syrian refugees who have made new friends at the centre having fled war at home. The centre is run by NGO Intersos and is supported by UNHCR. (c)UNHCR/J.Matas/2015

Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton watch young Syrian refugees participate in a drama workshop on the topic of early marriage at the Mazboud Community Centre, Chouf, Lebanon. Ahmad is on the right.(c)UNHCR/J.Matas/2015

Ahmad and his friends performing the final scene in a drama they devised themselves on the topic of early marriage. Mazboud Community Centre is run by Intersos with support from UNHCR. The young people plan their next drama to be on the subject of child labour.(c)UNHCR/J.Matas/2015

Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton join young cast members and staff following the drama performance.(c)UNHCR/J.Matas/2015

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