Assistance for Children

Awareness Raising: Join us at our community centres to learn more about the rights of children and young persons. Get to know more about child protection and its services. Children and young people play an important role in raising awareness on children’s rights and bringing about social change in their community. Awareness-raising activities aim to empower communities to respond to child protection risks and concerns. Child Friendly Spaces & Recreational Activities: Are you under 18 and wondering what to do in your free time? Come to one of our Child Friendly Spaces inside our community centres to play freely or join one of the recreational and learning activities in a safe environment. Recreational activities contribute to the physical, social, and intellectual development of the children. Child Protection Counselling and Case Management: If you are in need of help or face any harm, you can seek help at the community centres. A trained staff will listen to you, provide counselling and support you to access services such as education, health and psychosocial support. They will work with your family if needed, but always respecting your privacy. Case Management focuses on your needs and the needs of your family, ensuring that your concerns are addressed while building upon your, your family’s and your community’s resources to identify possible solutions. Child Protection Community-Based Structures: For children: Join one of our Children’s Clubs to play an active role in child protection within schools, shelters, camps, and communities. For Adults: Join one of our Child Welfare Committees. The committee is composed of committed members of the communities to support children and address child protection concerns within the community. If you would like to join one, please reach out directly to any staff member at the community centre to express your interest. In most cases, the consent of an adult caregiver is required before receiving/participating in any of the above services/activities.

What is important for me to know? ✏️ Keep your documents safe: It is very important to keep any identity documents (like an ID card or passport) in a safe place. Try to make copies of them if you can. Do not let someone take your documents away, even if they are offering to help you find housing or transportation. ✏️ Help is free to all people: Nobody is allowed to make you work or ask for any favour (things or money) or anything that makes you uncomfortable in exchange for help. If anyone does this, you can report them to the police or UNHCR and ask for help. ✏️ Ask adults you trust to help keep you safe: If a stranger offers to take you away from your family to give you something, say ‘no’ and tell an adult you trust. Never agree to meet a stranger without first talking to an adult you trust. If you are in a situation that makes you uncomfortable or unsafe, tell someone you trust and ask for help. 💞REMEMBER: If something like this happens, it is not your fault, and you are not to blame. Can I contact UNHCR? Yes, you can! If you need information or support from UNHCR, there are many ways to reach out! 💜Outreach Volunteers are individuals from your community who share information between you and UNHCR. You can talk to any of these volunteers for help and information. 💜The members of your local Children’s Clubs can provide you more information on your rights and activities in your community. They can also share information between you and UNHCR. 🩷You can visit community centres closest to where you live. You can speak to someone who works there, who can answer your questions. It’s a good idea to discuss this with your parents or a trusted adult first, but you can also contact us on your own. 🟡Here’s a list of all partner-run community centres in Syria. I’ve been separated from my family. Who can I contact for help? If you are a child and you find yourself alone without your family members, or if you come in contact with a child alone who wants to reunite with his/her family, contact the community centre in your area. I am not going to school right now, but I would like to. How can I get help to go to school? All children have the right to education, including displaced children. If you would like to go to school or if you need any information about education opportunities where you live, there are several ways to learn more. 🖍️You can find information on this website’s education page. 🖍️You can talk to Outreach Volunteers in your community. 🖍️You can visit community centres closest to where you live. You can speak to someone who works there who can answer your questions. 🔵Click here to visit the education page. 🟠Here’s a list of all partner-run community centres in Syria. Someone has hurt me, or I am afraid that they will. What should I do? No one has the right to abuse, neglect, or mistreat you or any child – not even parents, relatives, or teachers. If someone has hurt you or touched you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, or if you are afraid that someone will, there are organisations that can help you. 🖍️You can talk to Outreach Volunteers in your community. 🖍️You can visit community centres closest to where you live. You can speak to someone who works there who can answer your questions. Here’s a list of all partner-run community centres in Syria. What can I do if I feel sick or need medical help? […..] I feel sad, angry, worried, scared, or confused. Is this normal? It is okay and normal if you feel sad, angry or scared. It’s okay and normal too if you don’t know how you feel. You can ask for help. You are not alone, there are people who can help you. Talk to someone you trust. Here are some simple things that may help you cope with this difficult situation: 🟦Try to keep a routine. Go to sleep and wake up at the same times each day 🟨Try to eat regular healthy meals 🟪Spend time with your family and friends, and do things you all enjoy 🟫Move your body: walk or exercise if you can 🟥Keep in contact with family and friends. If you cannot contact them now, write letters 🟩Help others in your community ⬛Take breaks from news and avoid upsetting photos or videos If you feel angry or overwhelmed: 🔸Take a break and focus on breathing slowly for a few minutes 🔸Look for quiet or interesting things around you, like the sky, a tree, or bird sounds 🔸Talk to someone you trust about how you are feeling 🔸Ask for help by reaching out to the community centre in your area How can I protect myself from Explosive Objects? • Avoid areas previously occupied by military or armed groups or where hostilities occurred. • Avoid destroyed buildings and sites of previous clashes, blast pits, piles of rubble and dirt. • Avoid unused land with tall grasses and abandoned fields with trees with unharvested fruit. • Stay alert: Always pay attention to suspicious objects. Unexploded objects can be buried under debris or in areas where you may want to play, like fields. • Any foreign object you encounter may be dangerous, so you should avoid it and not approach it. • Learn what explosive objects look like. Find photos here: help.unhcr.org/lebanon/explosives • If you see an unknown object: (1) STOP, (2) do not approach, (3) do not touch or hit, (4) Stay where you are or calmly follow the same route you came from. Alert others and your parents. If you see an unknown object, remember the 5 steps: 1) Look around (2) STOP (3) do not approach (4) do not touch or hit or play with (5) Stay where you are or scream for help. Alert others and your parents.

What can you do to help your child? Provide facts to children about what has happened, explain what is going on now and give them clear information about how to reduce risk, in ways they can understand. • As children adjust to the new environment, ensure they know their name, address and parents’ phone number, or have the information with them. • Tell your children to not talk to strangers and tell them it is OK to not speak to an adult they do not know. • Take time to listen and try to understand what they have experienced. If a child is in need of more support, please talk to outreach volunteers in your community or reach out to the community centre in your area. During displacement and crises, it is important to promote a daily routine to help children and families ease anxiety, create psychological balance, and create a sense of safety. · If your child has not access to school (yet), try to dedicate time for educational activities at home, through reading, writing, and other educational activities appropriate for the child’s age. Find out more about access to education by clicking here. · Try to maintain a regular schedule for routine activities (such as meals, sleep, and cleaning). · Try to create a small space for the children to play and spend time. · Have regular chats with your children to help them express their thoughts and regulate their feelings. It is important to maintain family traditions and celebrate family achievements. For more information, click here for a leaflet or a brochure – Leaflet https://www.unodc.org/res/prevention/resources-for-caregiving-in-conflict-crisis-or-stressful-settings_html/UNODC-Parenting-CrisisDisplacement-leaflet-230207-ARA.pdf https://www.unodc.org/res/prevention/resources-for-caregiving-in-conflict-crisis-or-stressful-settings_html/UNODC-Parenting-CrisisDisplacement-leaflet-230206-ENG-rev3.pdf – Brochure https://www.unodc.org/unodc/drug-prevention-and-treatment/publications/data/2021/october/caring-for-your-child-in-crisis-situations.html https://www.unodc.org/res/prevention/prevention-through-family-skills_html/UN-AR_-Caring_for_child_in_Crisis_Situations_booklet-201220-DIGITAL.pdf Where can I get support? You do not have to manage on your own. UNHCR staff, partners, outreach volunteers and community committees are available to provide support. 🔵Click here to learn more about the assistance provided to parents, caregivers and children. 🟠Here’s a list of all partner-run community centres in Syria. How can I protect myself and my family from Explosive Objects • Avoid areas previously occupied by military or armed groups or where hostilities occurred. • Avoid destroyed buildings and sites of previous clashes, blast pits, piles of rubble and dirt. · Avoid unused land with tall grasses and abandoned fields with trees with unharvested fruit. • Stay alert: Always pay attention to suspicious objects. Unexploded objects can be buried under debris or in areas where children may play, like fields. • Learn what explosive objects look like. Find photos here: help.unhcr.org/lebanon/explosives • If you see an unknown object: (1) STOP, (2) do not approach, (3) do not touch, (4) Stay where you are or calmly follow the same route you came from. • Teach children about explosive safety. Remind children that unknown explosive objects can be hidden and can cause serious harm. Help them to remember the five steps: (1) Look around (2) STOP, (3) do not approach, (4) do not touch, (5) scream for help and alert others.