PROTECTING SYRIANS SCHOOLS

In response to the escalating dangers facing schools in Syria, the high-profile campaign featured in the BBC Panorama documentary “Surviving Syria’s Schools” called for an end to the bombings of educational institutions and raised funds to install early warning systems (EWS) in high-risk schools. These systems, installed across 150 schools, give children and teachers a crucial six-minute window to evacuate if their school is targeted by an aerial attack.

By 2021, SRRF successfully funded EWS coverage for 10 schools, and the broader programme has since installed alarms in 75 schools, protecting 27,820 children and teachers. This initiative has facilitated 18 safe evacuations with zero injuries and provided 413 children with focused support sessions, improving their psychosocial well-being. As a result, 99% of parents report feeling safer sending their children to school, and, since November 2021, no child has been killed or targeted at these protected schools.