WHAT DO YOU SEE?
A BRIDE? A SOLDIER? A REFUGEE?
AN UNEDUCATED GIRL OR STARVING CHILD?
MEET SIX KIDS HERE TO TELL YOU A DIFFERENT STORY, IN THEIR WORDS;
"We are children who stand against early marriage," sing Hiba* & Rama*. "We'll fight the world to stop it."
A girl shouldn't speak her mind? Says who!
These child activists use rap and spoken word to spread their message about child marriage.
*Names changed to protect identities
To protect their family, Hiba and Rama's parents decided they had to leave their home, family and friends in Syria. But making that decision was still dangerous. It took the family many tries to reach Jordan's border, as new air strikes forced them to turn back. "I definitely felt the dangers throughout our journey… It was filled with difficulties…. We could have been destroyed by anything and everything." – Hiba. "As soon as we were able to cross the Jordanian border, I felt safe." – Rama
Together we can build the world we want our children to grow up in.
When they first arrived in Jordan's Za'atari refugee camp, Hiba and Rama were not close. The difficulties they'd left behind had put a rift between them, and Rama struggled with distressing thoughts following the trauma of war. But writing brought them together.
"I keep telling her that we will achieve great things and the world will know about us. Someday, we will deliver our message to the world."
"I try my best to keep her hopeful… If I give in to despair, so will she. I will lift her up once or twice or even 20 times."- Hiba
Hiba and Rama are normal sisters. They bicker, they talk over one another, they laugh at each other. But they’re also refugees. They’re activists. Oh, and they’re rappers.
“We are children who stand against child marriage,” Hiba and Rama flow in unison. “We will fight the world to stop it.”
These talented Syrian sisters are already changing attitudes in Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan, where they’ve lived for six years. They’ve helped stop the marriage of one their school friends and got their parents’ support to turn down proposals themselves.
“I think that many grown-ups believe in child marriage,” says Hiba, who’s 17. “And after many attempts to change their views, some were convinced. Their mindsets have changed.”
“It’s common that children learn from adults, but nowadays things have changed - adults should learn from children,” says 14-year-old Rama. “I believe we have so much to show them.”
It’s hard to believe they’ve been through so much. When the family fled the war in Syria, Rama was in a bad place. Her arm was badly injured in an explosion and she was struggling mentally.
But her big sister, Hiba, helped her find fresh hope through writing and rap music. “I keep telling her that we will achieve great things and the world will know about us,” she says.
They’re growing in confidence thanks to Save the Children and Arsenal’s Coaching for Life programme. It empowers children to stand up for their rights through football coaching. And for Hiba and Rima, it’s kickstarted something special.
“A girl shouldn’t speak her mind? Says who?”
The girls use their talent for writing and close bond to rap and sing about one of the main issues affecting them and other girls in the camp – child marriage. "I do not sing for entertainment. My purpose is not amusement. I sing to raise your awareness." - Hiba. Since they began, they’ve helped stop a girl from their school being married and got their parents’ support to turn down proposals themselves. These inspirational activists will not stop until they have succeeded in changing the mindsets of those around them. "Here’s some advice to all those who want to marry off their daughters at the age of 14: don’t do it. You must support her instead."
'Hear this, what I’m about to say
To my mother, father, uncle, sister and brother
Before considering marriage, consider the consequences
Before you rob us of our childhood, think of the tragedies
The sun is rising anew, people’s minds are changing
Yet we still follow ancient ideas:
A girl at just fourteen, a victim of early marriage
Stop imposing this act of violence, early marriage
Stop depriving us from our childhood
Wake up! Open your eyes for God’s sake
Not only did you take away our right to childhood and education
But you are also destroying us
We are children who stand against early marriage
We will fight the world to stop it
I will stand in the face of anyone who threatens their daughter
It is my right to defend my Syrian sister'
Hiba and Rama attend Save the Children and Arsenal’s Coaching for Life programme. It’s helped them rebuild their resilience and process what they’ve been through. This new football coaching model aims to help children develop their courage and inner strength, and cope with the challenges they face. It also empowers children to know their rights, encouraging them to stand up for their right to be protected and safe. Children can also receive further support from their parents and caregivers, who take part in child protection and psychological support sessions.
"When I finish my studies and graduate, I want to become the President of the Republic of South Sudan."
This gentle, smiling 14-year-old loves school, especially maths, drama and drawing. But just a year ago, Peter* lived as a child soldier with an armed group.
Peter wanted to tell you his story. But we can't show his face or reveal his real name to protect his identity.
When Peter arrived in Uganda, he opened a small shop, but all the stock was stolen, including all his clothes and most of his money. 15,000 Ugandan shillings (just over £3) was all he had left. He used this to buy a pair of pigeons, but one of them became his most treasured possession – the pigeon he named Am. "I named it ‘Am' because I had lost everything. It was the only thing left for me. That is the meaning in the Gimunu language."
Together we can build the world we want our children to grow up in.
In a bustling refugee settlement in Uganda, a beaming boy cradles a baby pigeon. He’s been looking after it since it hatched. "I can handle with care" he says.
Peter had a happy early childhood in South Sudan. He loved school, especially maths, drama and drawing. But when he was ten, civil war broke out and tore his childhood apart. Afraid he would be shot dead; Peter ran for his life.
He lost his family in the chaos. "The fighting broke out and each person went his or her way,” says Peter. “We ran to the bush and hid."
Alone and struggling to find food, Peter joined an armed group."They gave us weapons for shooting,” he says. “They trained you how to load a gun, how to put in the bullet and release the trigger for the gun to shoot." He was 13 years old.
But Peter’s love of education gave him the strength to escape. He ran first to Democratic Republic of Congo, then to Uganda in the hope of going back to school. The few belongings he had were stolen when he reached the border. He was left with just a few shillings, which he used to buy two pigeons. He named one ‘Am’, meaning alone.
When Peter reached safety, we helped him find normality again. Our case workers provided psychosocial support so he felt able to return to school and benefit from the education he so desperately dreamed of.
Peter still misses his family, and he fears the armed group he ran from. But he has big plans for both himself and his country: "When I finish my studies and graduate, I want to become the President of the Republic of South Sudan."
Peter was a child soldier. But he’s so much more. "I look forward to the future, and the future is here."
When Peter was ten, civil war broke out and tore his childhood apart. Afraid he would be shot dead; he ran for his life. It was the last time he saw his family. Alone and hungry, he joined up with the rebels. "They were teaching us skills – how to hide ourselves or run. They taught us how to scatter. They gave us weapons for shooting. They trained you how to load a gun, how to put in the bullet and release the trigger for the gun to shoot. I think I was 13 years old." After more than two years, he escaped, determined to complete his education. "There are no schools there. Here [in Uganda] there are schools, and that is why we left – so that we can come to school to acquire some knowledge." Peter is still deeply affected by what he’s been through. He misses his family and fears the armed group he escaped from.
"I saw schools and hospitals, I was excited, and said ‘this is the place where you can at least study and get medication whenever you are sick."
Peter loves school, and has big ambitions for both himself and his country. His favourite subject is maths, but he also likes drama and art.
"If you get an opportunity to finish your studies, you will be successful. When you study and drop out because of other conditions, that will make your life unsuccessful."
"…I would build churches, schools, hospitals and good roads." "I want to help the people not to have doubts like before, that they are not [being] helped, hence the conflict."
"My name is Faisal*. I'm a ninja."
Bubbly, happy, energetic; Faisal's just like millions of other children. But he lives in a refugee camp in Jordan, where life can be tough. Luckily, his big brother Bilal is there to look out for him.
*Name changed to protect identity
Together we can build the world we want our children to grow up in.
Faisal was born in a refugee camp, his brother, Bilal, remembers the home he left behind in Syria. The brothers often play with the teddy bear Bilal brought from Syria – one of his most treasured possessions.
Faisal and Bilal are really close. They play-fight, read, build forts, play with toys and run races together. “I let Faisal win, because when he’s happy I am happy as well,” Bilal says. But Bilal is also very protective of Faisal. He takes him to our early learning centre every day on the family bike, and then cycles him home again. "I love him and he loves me. Faisal and I… we play, and we make shapes, and we draw, and we colour." - Bilal
"I jump from the furniture like I can fly!"
Faisal belongs to a generation born and raised thousands of miles from home. He's an ordinary five-year-old kid. And that's what makes him so special.
His family fled bombs in Syria six years ago, and their bouncing boy was born in Za'atari camp, Jordan. Life here isn't easy for children, but it seems nothing can keep Faisal from spreading his wings.
“At home I play hide and seek and jump from the furniture like I can fly,” he chirps.
Faisal attends our early learning centre in the camp. He'll be starting school next year, so we're making sure he's ready to hit the ground running.
"At the centre I draw and write and go on the slide," he says. “I paint! I paint everything! Especially bears.”
But the centre also gives Faisal a safe space to use up his endless energy. He can chat, bash the tambourine, swing on the monkey bars, build forts, and come up with his next big idea.
“I hide under the cushions, then I tell a story about a rabbit to my baby sister: Once upon a time, there was a father rabbit and a mother rabbit, and they had babies. The end. The other story is about two turtles, a mother and a father. And three baby turtles, and one of them wears make-up.”
We support children like Faisal so they can just be children, and make sure what happens next is up to him, not his circumstances. Because Faisal’s a refugee. But he’s so much more.
We asked Faisal what he wanted to buy. Here's what he told us!
"If I could fly, I'd go to the mall. I'd go, buy toys and get trousers and a shirt. All for me! I would put my new outfit on, then show my mum, dad and grandparents. "
Faisal also said he'd like:
Eggs
Yogurt
Biscuits
"If I could have a pet I'd choose a bird, cat or a chicken. Three of each!"
Faisal was enrolled at a Save the Children early learning centre, which he loves. His mother Zahra says he has become even more energetic, but also that he now knows how to share what he’s learnt with his siblings. Save the Children runs three Early Learning Centres in Za’atari, providing early childhood care and development for refugee children to support them ahead of their transition to primary education.
"Lawrence is my little brother who I love very much and I would do anything to help him."
Meet Leolida, 12. With support from a Save the Children health worker, Leolida does all he can to help his 18-month-old brother recover from malnutrition, even going hungry himself.
Leolida does all he can to support his family
Lawrence and Leolida’s bond is very special. There is nothing Leolida wouldn’t do for his little brother. He feeds Lawrence, bathes him, dresses him and washes his clothes - he even gets work when he is not in school to buy food for the baby. But most importantly, they're always playing together. In fact, the only time Lawrence smiles or laughs is when his big brother gets home from school, scoops him up in his arms and kisses him. "I hold him up, sometimes I carry him up and when I see he is happy, I put him down, then I clap my hands and he does the same. Those are really good games."
Together we can build the world we want our children to grow up in.
Leolida is 12. His baby brother, Lawrence, is 18-months old. They play non-stop. Leolida looks after Lawrence when their mum, Jennifer, is cooking or cleaning. He even shares his food with him. And he often goes to bed hungry as a result.
"Lawrence is my little brother that I love very much, and I would do anything to help him," says Leolida.
"I help my mummy to fetch water and sweep the house,” says Leolida. “I help her by bathing Lawrence, dressing him up in clean clothes and washing his clothes."
For Jennifer, every day is a struggle to make sure her children get enough food. She raises them alone in the remote village in Turkana County, Kenya, where she sought refuge after her divorce.
Now she crafts smalls brooms and sells them for 50 Kenyan shillings (about 40p) in a market a day’s walk away. It’s not enough to feed her boys.
Lawrence was half the weight of a healthy child his age when our health workers diagnosed him with malnutrition. We gave him antibiotics and highly nutritious food that saved his life, and now he gets regular check-ups. Before we deployed health workers in the village, Jennifer had to walk two hours to the nearest clinic.
But now Lawrence is getting better, and his big brother can look to the future. 'I want to become a doctor,” says Leolida, “so I can help other young children like my brother Lawrence."
Our work has also inspired Leolida’s new career aspiration. "When I grow up and finish my education, I want to be a doctor so that I can help my family at home. I would like to help everybody, including all those people in our village."
Lawrence and Leolida’s mum, Jennifer, does the best she can to provide for her young sons, but sometimes there is just not enough food. With so little to eat, Lawrence was only half the weight of an average child his age, and fell ill with severe acute malnutrition.
Thanks to an innovative new Save the Children programme, Leolida and his mum haven’t had to cope with Lawrence’s illness alone. One of our community health volunteers was on hand to diagnose little Lawrence and give him the antibiotics and highly nutritious food he needed to begin his recovery.
He has of course also had loving support from his older brother too:
"I usually feel so bad, I give him my food. After I am given food at school, I take my food and I share it with him."
With Leolidas’ brotherly sacrifice, and a helping hand from our health workers, Lawrence is beginning to recover.
"When a girl is given a chance, she can do what a boy child can do."
In a refugee settlement in Uganda, 14-year-old head girl Harriet* is proving just how capable young girls can be!
*Name changed to protect identity
"We were about to take our supper. Immediately we heard people running. We were like "what is the problem?" Vehicles moved. Then we heard a gunshot."
Harriet walked for three days, before arriving in a vast refugee settlement in northern Uganda. "I thought I’d never go to school again because of the war."
But we helped Harriet put on her uniform again and catch up on her learning. "I started learning so many things. I started learning leadership skills, how to make reusable pads, reading, writing."
Harriet’s determination and creativity went into overdrive. Now, through song and drama, she’s fighting for every child’s right to education. "Most, I like to sing about education… girl child education…If girls were to rule, there will not be maybe some problems, conflicts."
Despite everything Harriet’s been through, she wants to make other people’s lives better. "I want to be a lawyer because I don't want to see my people suffering."
When we help children like Harriet to reach her potential, they can go on the achieve great things. But most importantly, they can be whoever they want to be.
"Someone can call me a refugee," says Harriet. "But myself, I say that I’m a human being again."
Harriet's little sister, Anita, cries "Nolito!" – an affectionate word for "girl" in Swahili – when Harriet arrives home.
Harriet believes strongly in gender equality and writes songs and plays which get her point across. Instead of marriage, she believes girls should continue their education and have big dreams for their futures. One of her favourite songs to perform, dance and sing to goes like this: Girl child education, girl child education, Girl child education, can bring change in the world. Our girls are driving, our girls get salaries, Society benefits, our nation benefits, our country benefits’
Together we can build the world we want our children to grow up in.
When they reached Uganda, they were safe. But it wasn’t easy for Harriet to go to school, and she was worried.
"I think education is important. It makes people bright, and you’ll get a lot of knowledge, things you did not know before you get them, and you’ll learn a lot of things."
Harriet joined Save the Children’s Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP) in the refugee settlement where she lives. It supports children who have been out of education to catch up with the schooling they’ve missed.
Now, she is back in mainstream school, her learning has really taken off, and she has been chosen as head girl by her classmates, something she is very proud of.
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