The girls in the eighth grade assemble with joy to welcome their teacher, Mona. They are eager to start a new school day, which has special educational activities, the teacher prepares for the students.
Mona Yassin, 37, lives with her three children and husband in Maarat Misrin of Idlib. She resumed her job as a teacher at the beginning of the past year at one of the educational centers supported by Qatar Charity (QC) and Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) in northern Syria.
Previously, Mona worked as a volunteer teacher for two years. Due to the lack of financial support, she was unable to continue teaching and pursued another career, as she informed us.
“The absence of teaching opportunities and the urgent need to secure the necessities of life forced me to work in medical centers and organizations. However, the dream of returning to teaching has never left me, especially as I see children in the camps struggling to access or lacking educational services.
After winning first place in the Education Directorate’s competition, I was nominated to teach science to the students of preparatory and secondary grades in Maarat Misrin.
The project “Improving the level of education and building the capabilities of teachers and school principals in northern Syria,” which was implemented by Qatar Charity, in cooperation with and funding from QFFD, within the ‘Quest-3’ initiative last year, provided the necessary training for 1,000 male and female teachers and 28 school principals. The project aims to enhance their skills and abilities to adapt to the challenging teaching conditions in northwestern Syria and overcome the learning difficulties that students may face due to interruptions in their education.
This has increased children’s interest in attending the centers and their commitment to regular attendance. In addition, the financial support and the provision of necessary resources ensure an appropriate educational environment, as Mona noted.
After an absence from teaching for more than two years, I was very enthusiastic about providing benefit to the children of the camps. I travel a long distance every day to reach the educational center, but the enthusiasm of the children and their interest in educational activities increased my desire to provide education to them in the best and most enjoyable ways, especially as the project provides the necessary tools to raise awareness of parents about the importance of education through protection training and sessions.
On World Teachers’ Day, observed annually on October 5, I am proud to be part of this project, as well as proud of my students’ commitment, enthusiasm, and excellence. I hope that these impactful projects continue.”
