Echoes of Hope from Syria's Youth

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Gathering

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Matt 14:27

This was the theme of the gathering that brought 31 boys and girls together in a beautiful hotel outside Damascus to begin a year-long journey of healing.

The intended number was 40, but 9 could not make it due to the road dangers. Still, the 31 cases of fear, psychological distress, deep wounds, and emotional breakdowns caused by what these young people had endured were enough to make it worth going to Damascus. And together with our partners there, we worked to do what seemed almost impossible—to help. 

Art Therapy

One of our girls created a painting that spoke louder than words. On one side, she painted a radiant, smiling girl—her face full of life and beauty. “This,” she said, “is how girls around the world are… normal and beautiful, like the girl on the right.”

But on the other side, the contrast was heartbreaking. She painted a fragile, wounded figure and a highly complex head of fear and sorrow. “And this,” she whispered, “is how girls in Syria are… like the one on the left.”

Her artwork became a mirror of their reality—a cry from the heart of a generation of young girls who should be dreaming of the future, but instead carry scars of war, loss, and survival.

Personal Stories

Shady

Shady, the 17-year-old boy, recalls that moment with deep sorrow, saying:
"My life was going just fine with my family and my studies, until my mother was martyred. She left us… and until now, I still can’t believe she’s gone."

"My mom passed away just 25 days before my final exam… but I took it for her, because she always wanted me to succeed and build my future."

As part of psychological support, Shadi participated in a camp where several activities were designed to strengthen his confidence and encourage him emotionally and mentally. These included:
• Prayer and reflection on the Bible.
• Art sessions for expression and release.
• Workshops on self-confidence.
• Group meetings with psychologists to talk about feelings, relationships, and coping strategies.
• One-on-one follow-ups to reinforce his ability to face challenges.

At the end of the camp, Shadi expressed his gratitude, saying:
"Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity… for letting me go out, meet new people, and learn how to express myself "

Michael

On that fateful day, Michael walked alongside his mother to the church. At only thirteen years old, his heart carried nothing but the simple desire to pray. No one could have imagined that the life of an innocent boy would be shattered in an instant— that his steps toward the house of God would instead lead him into a dark tunnel of treatments, of sorrow, of fear, and of wounds too deep to heal.

When he was asked to draw the place where he sees himself, Michael sketched the sky — as if he were still ascending toward it, reliving the journey of death with every breath. And when asked about his hopes for the future, his answer was simple yet heartbreaking: to see his mother, who had suffered broken bones and deep wounds while shielding him with her own body— smile again, walk again, and live free of pain.

Lusin  

As soon as we arrived at the hotel and people began to gather, one of the therapists who had been invited to help the teenagers on their healing journey approached me with a warm smile. “Hello, Miss Izdihar, do you remember me?” she asked.

I felt a bit embarrassed, because I honestly did not recognize her. Smiling back, I said, “You must have become more beautiful and changed so much—that’s why I can’t remember you.”

She then told me her story: she had once been a young survivor of the war in Syria, and had attended one of our trauma-healing meetings back in 2013. From that day, she made a promise to God and to herself—that she would study and specialize in trauma therapy, so she could help others as she had been helped. That encounter, she explained, had left such a deep and positive mark on her life.

I could not hold back my tears as I listened. My heart overflowed with gratitude—first to the Lord and then to all those who supported us and stood beside our ministry with wounded and broken teenagers. This ministry began in the early days of the war in Syria in 2012 and, by God’s grace, continues to this day.