16 January, 2025

At 13-years of age, Samir* has seen things no child should experience.

He is one of thousands of children whose lives have been devastated by the conflict in Lebanon.

On the first day of the conflict, Samir woke to the sound of airstrikes. The deafening blasts shattered the windows. “He screamed as if he thought he was going to die,” his mother recalls. “The attacks continued, and our home was destroyed. It was no longer safe for us.”

Samir’s home was no longer safe

The family fled to Syria, but the trauma left profound scars on Samir. Now, every loud noise sends his heart racing, and the memories of loss haunt him. He witnessed his friend’s home being reduced to rubble and watched as his friend was pulled lifeless from the debris. “He never thought he would lose someone he played with every day,” his mother says. “That loss has shattered him; a part of him is gone.”

Amid this turmoil, ADRA has been a beacon of hope for Samir and his family. Before leaving for Syria, Samir was attending classes at the ADRA Centre. Determined to ensure his education continues despite the conflict, ADRA provided him with distance-learning support. Samir’s commitment to learning stood out — he followed every lesson, watched every instructional video, and stayed connected with his ADRA teachers. His mother says, “ADRA has been his lifeline. Their support in education and psychosocial care gave him strength. He never missed a session, and it gave him a sense of stability in an unstable world.”

Samir has been doing distance learning through ADRA

Through these efforts, Samir has found solace and hope for the future. The psychosocial support he receives is helping him navigate the emotional turmoil, while the continued education support offers a semblance of normalcy. But his heart remains in Lebanon. “He dreams of returning to the ADRA Centre back home,” his mother shares. “It was his sanctuary, where he felt safe and confident, even in the darkest times.”

ADRA’s education centre was a safe space for Samir (far right)

Conflicts and disasters are robbing children like Samir of an education. Your gift today can provide children affected by disasters with education, psychosocial support, and comfort. Give at adra.org.au/respond to help ADRA be Always Ready, Always There when disaster strikes.

*Name changed for child protection purposes