“I’m happy here with all my new friends” — Mizken makes new friends in Syria

Mizken, an 11-year-old girl from Rajo, in Aleppo Governorate, northwestern Syria, was displaced with her family to Tal Refaat from over a year ago. With the support of UNHCR and partners, she can enjoy her childhood in a safe place.

“I’m happy here with all my new friends, we sing, learn, draw, play and laugh together”, says Mizken, an 11-year-old girl from Rajo, in Aleppo Governorate, northwestern Syria.

“I’m happy here with all my new friends, we sing, learn, draw, play and laugh together”

She was displaced with her family to Tal Refaat from over a year ago. Among 100 other kids from the local community and displaced families, Mizken goes every week to the satellite center to attend a child protection session that includes a new topic every time, in addition to some games.

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This session was about the dangers around us — from mines to electric junction box’s in the streets. The activity was promoted by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Rogina, a 10-year-old girl from Midan, north Aleppo, fled as well with her family and was displaced to Tal Refaat. “We can sing as loud as we can here, and I love it”, says Rogina.

“We can sing as loud as we can here, and I love it”

Kids like her are given the chance to express themselves freely in the center and they are provided with a safe place to learn new skills and share their dreams.

A total of 34 community and satellite centers across Aleppo governorate provide a wide range of free protection services ranging — from legal aid, education and livelihood support to psycho-social support, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) prevention and response and child protection interventions, in accordance with their humanitarian needs.

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Tal Refaat area has sheltered more than 141,040 individuals — as of February 2019 — fleeing Afrin and surrounding areas due to the fighting.

More than 752,000 individuals were reached by UNHCR and its partners by the end of June 2019 through protection interventions. It includes 538,227 individuals reached with general protection activities, 80,101 individuals with child protection activities and 133,723 individuals reached through awareness raising campaigns on SGBV prevention and response activities throughout 14 governorates.

 

Edited by Gustavo Barreto