Reem, a child who hasn’t yet reached her ninth spring, is a bright flame in the fields of knowledge, literature, and ethics. She lives with a family composed of a father, a mother, and three children, one of whom has special needs.

Reem has always been aware of her surroundings, but she is consistently optimistic, believing that tomorrow will be better and that she will one day become the provider for her modest family. Her father, a laborer, has only his arms to support his family, and her mother, a homemaker, can provide only the basics for her three children.

Reem looks at her school as if it’s the only savior for her and her family. She understands that the only way out for them is through education and learning. She carries the responsibility of rescuing her family on her shoulders, and her eyes shine with a love for learning and a passion for knowledge. She stands out among her peers for excelling in all her school subjects. However, a challenging day arrived when an earthquake struck Turkey and northern Syria on February 26, 2023.

The earthquake destroyed many buildings and shattered the dreams of countless children, including Reem. Instead of dreams, fear and panic took root. This forced Reem’s family to abandon their destroyed village, their collapsed home, and the remnants of her beloved books and notebooks buried beneath the rubble. They sought refuge in her grandfather’s tent in the displacement camps.

As Reem walks and looks back, hoping to find something or someone asking her to return, her school seems like an unreachable dream, despite its proximity. The fear of the crumbling walls still haunts her, leaving her in a state of confusion. Should she continue her education despite the danger or abandon everything to save her life, remaining without knowledge, dreams, and a purpose she used to speak to her mother about, how she would become a physical therapist to help people and assist her three siblings? Everything seemed to be in ruins and over.

Then, in the beginning of April 2023, Sadaad came to reignite the spark of hope within Reem. They established temporary educational centers where educational materials were provided safely. Through these centers, students felt protected from destruction and chaos.

Reem was among the first students to enroll in these temporary centers. She continued her education through the official curriculum and followed up with therapeutic education to fill the gaps caused by the earthquake-induced interruption. Support teams compensated students for the lessons they missed, helping to mend the educational gap.

The tent was not just a place for learning; it also provided psychological support sessions for all students through specialized teams. These sessions brought joy back to the students’ lives in general and to Reem in particular. She felt like she was born anew, regaining her lost smile.

Reem says, “After losing some of my friends and our house collapsing, I became afraid for my life, my family, and especially for my sick brother, who constantly needs help with everything. I almost forgot that I love to study and wanted to continue and help my family with expenses.”

She adds, “When I heard that a team from the Sadaad organization came to our area and announced they would establish educational centers in the tents, I was thrilled. Now, we can continue our studies outside the classrooms and not worry about another earthquake.”

Reem’s father expresses his gratitude for the Sadaad organization, which relieved their burden and eased their fear of sending their children to school, as they constantly worried about another earthquake. He immediately registered Reem in the centers established within the tents. She is making clear progress in her studies and compensating for what she missed. Additionally, Reem received psychological support to help her overcome the trauma caused by losing some of her friends.

In conclusion, Reem advises her fearful friends who have stopped attending school to return and continue their education. She believes that education is the key to success, enabling them to achieve their dreams and help their families.