Voices of Children in Zaatari Camp

UNICEF has built a primary school in Zaatari Camp and the lessons formally started on October 4. The school is currently running on a double-shift system with mornings for girls and afternoons for boys. Arrangements between UNICEF and the Jordanian Government are also underway so that the refugee children will be able to use the credits they have obtained in Jordan in their home country of Syria when they go back there in the future.

At the school, we could see so many smiles on the faces of the children and they were enjoying talking and laughing with their friends. “Lessons have just started and the atmosphere is not quite like a school yet, but I’m really glad I can play with my friends safely,” a fifth-grade girl said. (A fence is installed around the school and the school guards are on duty.) “I can now spend time with my friends and I’m enjoying it,” another girl in the second grade said.

We visited the school during the morning when the school was being used by the girls, but we could also see many boys waiting in front of the school gate, suggesting they were looking forward for the school to start.

Some children even spoke to us and we were able to spend some time without the tension in the Camp. But as we were leaving a second-grade girl asked us with a serious look, “I’ve heard Japan is a peaceful country. Could you take us there?” and we couldn’t help thinking that children should also have mixed feelings in their hearts behind their smiling faces. Refugee children living in the Camp can go to primary school in the Camp with no cost, and full-fledged teaching is about to start.