The Story Behind the Gallery of Hope

One year ago, I purchased a beautiful drawing in the SRRF’s annual fundraising auction — one of only two pieces sourced at the time from the Mahmoudli Refugee Camp in Syria. It was a naive, heartfelt depiction of the school built on the camp’s grounds, funded by the SRRF. Something about it resonated immediately. Through that child’s eyes, I glimpsed a world that was simple and harsh, yet still full of beauty and hope.

Only later did I learn how central this school is to the children in the camp. The building that now hangs in my kitchen is, for them, much more than a classroom. It represents stability, possibility, and a sense of safety. In their drawings, the school appears again and again — bathed in sunlight, drawn as a place of peace, or even imagined as home. It is the centre of their world.

That first drawing sparked the idea for the Gallery of Hope: the belief that more people should have the chance to see what I saw — not just a child’s drawing, but a window into a reality we rarely get to witness directly. We read articles and watch documentaries, but these are filtered through someone else’s perspective. These drawings, however, come straight from the children themselves. They reveal their memories, fears, and aspirations. Their hopes are simple and profound: peace, the return of lost friends, the safety of a home some have never known.

The piece I purchased last year was a print, not an original, as reaching the camp was still extremely difficult. This year, after conditions shifted, the SRRF was able to bring back actual originals — carefully carried from Syria in the suitcase of the organisation’s founder, Will. They are scarce, deeply meaningful, and we are honoured to share them with you.

We hope these artworks bring you the same sense of candour, resilience, and quiet faith that they have brought to us. And that they might become meaningful gifts for you or your loved ones this holiday season.

Warmly,

AJ

Friend and curator of the Gallery of Hope