Protecting vulnerable children

My name is Zeinab, and I am 16 years old. We are six children at home. Two are married, two are staying at home, and my little brother and I come here to the education center. I have been attending the church’s education center for nine years now. There is love and care here, and there is collaboration between the teacher and the students. The teachers are considerate and compassionate. They understand that the students have specific circumstances, even the ones who struggle at school. Teachers don’t beat us like some do in other schools. They treat us with respect and love, and they teach us to do the same with one another.

At the center, the day starts with chapel. We have lessons about different topics like anger, forgiveness, love, thankfulness. We learn about how to draw close to God, how not to make mistakes, how to love one another. There are also hymns and worship songs. We keep singing them even on our way home. Their lyrics are beautiful, and they bring us some comfort. When we grow up, we will take these teachings with us and pass them on to our children.

During recess, I like to sit with my friends. I have a lot of friends here and we only get to be together here at the church. We love each other dearly. We like to chat about our lives and what we are going through, and we have each other’s back. We care for one another.

I like to study all the different subjects, but I like English the most. If only I could stay here longer to keep learning! Unfortunately, I don’t think I will be able to come back to the center next year. My parents want to take me out of school because of our difficult financial situation. We are in need, and we have much debt, so they want me to work.

Most days after school, I already go to work in the fields. I help with weeding, pruning, and harvesting. Because of that, I cannot do my homework, because my body needs rest. Studying requires mental effort, but I am exhausted from the physical work. Then, I cannot excel at school anymore, and at the same time it pains me to know that my family is suffering.

I am also afraid my parents might want to marry me off soon. My sister was 17 years old when she got married. In our community, some girls are married off at only 16 years old. This is something that scares every girl. We have goals we want to pursue in life. We might want to study or to work in a specific field. For example, I would like to become a hairdresser. But some parents do not give us the opportunity to follow our dreams.

No matter what happens to me, I know that if I have children one day, I will teach them the right way, and I will never let them out of school.  I will encourage them to study what they want to. I have seen and experienced things I never want them to go through. I want to change their life!

Like everyone, we hear in the news what is happening between Syrians and Lebanese, and how there is sometimes fighting. But here, I have learnt that not all Syrians are alike and not all Lebanese are alike. There are good people everywhere. It all depends on how one is brought up. Getting angry doesn’t solve anything. It only leads to more pain and trouble.

Here at the center, we are protected from the tensions. There is nothing but compassion and love for one another. The teachers care for us, and we learn how to care for one another. When there are strong bonds between people, we can go through anything and solve anything. When you become closer to God, your perspective on things changes. You have that inner voice that tells you not to hurt others and to do the right things. When you see someone suffering, you have empathy, and you want to help. When there is love people live a peaceful life.

May God bless you and all who are helping to fund the center. What you did for us, no one has ever done! I sincerely pray that God grants you what you need to keep supporting the education center. We might have to leave the school but there will be other children coming after us. There are no words to describe the happiness that this center brings to the children, or the impact it has on their lives.