My tent, my home
This Halloween – and every night – millions of children face a night of fear. It isn't fun or exciting and it isn't a choice for one night. 31 October is simply another night facing hardship, loneliness, abuse, hunger or conflict. Fourteen-year-old Ahmed is one of millions of children affected by the Syrian conflict that began in 2011. Recently separated from his parents and seeking refuge in Lebanon, Ahmed works selling chewing gum by the roadside in order to earn enough money to feed himself and repair his tent that is now his home.
Every day begins the same way for 14-year-old Ahmed; he wakes early, washes his face, has something small to eat and leaves to catch the bus to work, often whilst many people are still asleep in neighbouring tents. He travels into the city seven days a week, selling chewing gum for any amount of money offered to him.
Ahmed and his parents had established their makeshift tent in Lebanon’s Bekaa valley but when a cousin passed away, Ahmed’s parents decided to go back to Syria for the funeral. However, when his parents tried to return back across the border and join Ahmed in Lebanon, they found they were trapped. With masses of men, women and children trying to flee the conflict and cross into neighbouring countries this winter, borders were abruptly closed.
While his parents are still stuck in Syria, Ahmed must provide entirely for himself. He spends his time patching up the tent that he now calls home.
We recently met with Ahmed at the refugee camp and were taken aback by his frank matter-of-fact approach, he tells us “I am staying in this tent and I take care of it. I work and then I come back with some food. That’s how I live.”
Ahmed’s calm exterior and boldness is a stark reminder of how millions of children, displaced from their parents, have had to grow up extremely quickly to ensure their survival.
When we ask Ahmed what he would do if he could, he tells us, “I would stop the war. I’d change those tents into homes. I’d fix the situation and leave.”
Without his parents, Ahmed must remain in Lebanon and await their arrival. With Lebanon hosting over one million Syrian refugees, Ahmed is not facing a unique situation. One in every five people in Lebanon are now refugees and a vast majority are children or young adults.
Since the conflict began in 2011 over six million children have been forced to leave their homes. Displacement due to conflict has affected millions of children; separation from parents leaves children vulnerable to violence, malnutrition, disease and lack of psychosocial support. The high numbers of refugees mean countries struggle to maintain basic services, and Lebanon currently has an estimated shortfall of 280,000 school places. Many refugee children like Ahmed can’t get into school and need to work instead to support themselves and their families.
This Halloween, World Vision UK is asking our supporters to carve a heart in their pumpkins and text HEART to 70060 to donate £5* and help us to bring hope to children like Ahmed. You can find out more about the campaign here.
*This is a charity donation service for World Vision UK. Texts cost £5 plus your standard network rate message. World Vision will receive 100% of your donation. If you have a question about your payment call 0203 287 7863. If you would prefer we didn't contact you again in future, text NOCOMMS WORLD VISION to 70060. Charity no England and Wales (no 285908).
