REBUILDING GIRLS SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SYRIA
We're in Darayya near Damascus. Hospitals, schools, and mosques are gone. Children are trying to learn in the ruins.
REBUILDING EDUCATION. RESTORING FUTURES.
We’re rebuilding and renovating Darayya Girls Secondary School, a lifeline for girls in Darayya. This project will transform a partially destroyed site into a safe, fully functioning learning space, supporting over 1,500 children, with a focus on girls, children with disabilities, and those displaced by war.
Right now, 760 students attend despite missing roofs, unsafe classrooms, and no electricity. With your help, we’ll rebuild 23 classrooms, restore clean water and sanitation, and provide children with books, desks, supplies, and safe transport.
1/3
WITHOUT EDUCATION
Only 1 in 3 girls finish secondary school. Rebuilding this school will more than double their chances.
80%
SCHOOLS DAMAGED
80% of schools are damaged or destroyed. Children are learning in unsafe, overcrowded rooms, or not at all.
1,500
CHILDREN
Supporting over 1,500 Syrian children. This initiative will ensure that 1,500 young futures are rebuilt and restored.
OUR OBJECTIVE
Project Purpose
• Rehabilitate Al Dabbas School to support 1,500 children.
• Non-formal education for 500 vulnerable children.
• Psychosocial support, case management, and emergency assistance.
• Upgrade school infrastructure and WASH facilities.
• Promote community ownership through training and local engagement.
Background
• 1 in 3 schools is damaged, destroyed, or repurposed.
• Teachers lack training, resources, and safe facilities.
• In Darayya, only 15 schools are operational and 8 are partially destroyed.
• At Al Dabbas Secondary School, 40% of girls have dropped out.
Main Activities
1. Community Engagement:
• Establish a Local Committee (LC) representing a diverse cross-section of the community to oversee and manage the project activities.
2. School Rehabilitation:
• Assess and carry out necessary rehabilitation works, including:
- Classroom repairs and equipping with modern educational resources
- Administrative room upgrades
- Rebuilding the school fence for safety
- Electrical system repairs and solar energy installation
- WASH facilities rehabilitation ensuring accessibility for all students
Education & Protection
• Set up a Temporary Learning Centre.
• Deliver catch-up, remedial, and literacy/numeracy programmes.
• Train and incentivise 20 local teachers.
• Distribute school supplies and PSS kits.
• Run “Back-to-Learning” campaigns targeting girls and school dropouts.
• Provide transport for children with disabilities or protection risks.
• Host PSS sessions for children aged 6 - 17.
• Deliver individual case management for high-risk children.
• Emergency Case Fund for urgent shelter, medical, and protection needs.
• Offer parenting workshops using the Safe Families Common Approach.
Expected Outcomes
1. Improved Access to Quality Education:
• Safe, functional, and inclusive learning environment for 1,500 students
• Reliable power supply through solar energy systems
2. Strengthened Local Governance and Community Engagement:
• Empowerment of local residents through the LC, ensuring community-driven project management
3. Sustainability and Long-Term Impact:
• Reduced operational costs and increased self-sufficiency of the school through solar energy
• Ongoing management and maintenance by the LC
4. Catalyst for Broader Advocacy:
• Engagement with NGOs and policymakers to advocate for the rehabilitation of other critical infrastructure in Darayya
Monitoring and Evaluation
• Daily site monitoring by AFH engineers
• Documentation by the media team
• Project cycle monitoring by the AFH MEAL team
• Satisfaction surveys and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) at project completion
• The LC will manage and sustain the rehabilitated school facilities
• Solar power will minimize long-term operational costs
REBUILDING SYRIA
The ongoing crisis in Syria has left millions of families displaced, vulnerable, and in desperate need of life-saving assistance.
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LEBANON EMERGENCY
Lebanon is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis due to economic collapse, natural disasters, and conflict.
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YEMEN APPEAL
Yemen remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Around 23.4 million people need humanitarian assistance.
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WHAT WE ARE DOING
Your support will allow us to completely renovate this school. That means rebuilding classrooms with proper roofing, doors, and windows. We’ll supply desks, books, and basic school materials. We'll restore water and electricity, and ensure the school is safe and secure, so these girls can learn in peace.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN
These girls are resilient. Even when there’s no roof over their heads, even when the power cuts out, they keep going. They’ve faced war, loss, and fear; but they refuse to give up on their education. They are not broken. They are determined. And they need us.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Every pound makes a difference. Your donations could go towards providing school supplies for children. Repairing part of a damaged classroom. Or can contribute to the full reconstruction of a safe, secure learning space. Whether you give, share, or spread awareness, you’re helping bring back education to a place where it’s needed most.