MEET NAJWA

Najwa’s children doing their homework

My name is Najwa, I am a Syrian married to a Lebanese and have been living in Lebanon ever since I got married. We live with my in-laws in the outskirts of Beirut, in a two-room house. We faced so many hardships before receiving help from the Tahaddi center[1]. I used to beg for food to be able to feed my two children. I had to take them with me. Before being enrolled in the education center, my children used to stay home all the time because I was very concerned for their safety. I kept them inside, not wanting them to talk or play with anyone. I was just worried about what could happen to them. As a result, they grew up very shy, and afraid of the outside world.

I always thought that my children could not enter the Tahaddi education center because they do not have IDs, but when I was informed that they could participate, I registered them. They have been attending since September 2019. They cried on their first day at school, not talking to anyone, and not letting me go. It was all very new to them, but very soon they felt safe.

I am so happy to see that my children now love learning. Being around children their age, making friends, and studying has made them less shy and more outgoing. I have also realized the importance of education for my children, and will keep working hard to motivate them to study and be the best. I am anxiously waiting for their report cards because they do well and it makes me very proud.

The coronavirus and economic crisis really affected us. Things have gotten much more expensive and we can no longer purchase the food we usually did. My husband works in the local vegetable market and makes around $10 a day. Before the crisis, I used to work too, cleaning houses and washing dishes in restaurants. Now I can’t find work, and with the prices doubling or tripling, we are letting go of some essentials such as oil.

With the lockdown, the education center had to close and my children were very affected and emotional about it. With time, they got used to studying at home, but they still tell me they miss their friends and educators whom they love so much. They ask me to take them to the center every single day.

It was a difficult transition, but I was with them the whole time. Helping them in their studies was very beneficial for me since I only studied till the third grade in Syria. I still remembered certain things and learned even more by attending the online program with my children. For example, I learned how to read and write in English.

I also helped them with their art projects. At first, I struggled to understand the instructions of the educators and I was making a lot of mistakes. It felt discouraging at times. But I persevered and focused and finally was able to help my children do their exercises correctly.

Besides the education, we benefited from a sponsoring through Tahaddi, enabling us to buy a washing machine, a TV, and pay our rent for six months. With this support and with the little money my husband brings daily, the situation is better. We are also so thankful to receive money to pay for the monthly internet fees. Without that, my children wouldn’t have been able to study from home. We feel so blessed to receive such support and encouragement. It has brought us all hope, and it comforts me to know that there is someone listening to us.

I hope and pray that I won’t need help from anyone in the future, and that my husband and I can go back to working normally and providing for our family. I also hope for my children to go back to school, and continue their studies.

[1] MERATH’s partner in the outskirts of Beirut