International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee's good works go beyond providing the critical goods necessary during a humanitarian crisis. While the stats are impressive—in 2020, the nonprofit gave 2.6 million people clean water and 31 million access to health services—its influence can't always be so easily measured. Sometimes, the joy of a child's smile is impact enough.

Consider the story of Jumana,* a 47-year-old mother, who was forced to flee her home in Ras el Ein, Syria, with her children. They arrived at a refugee camp elsewhere in the country and were finally safe. No more constant airstrikes, no more escalating conflict. But, soon, she noticed a change in her son, Yasser. "He wasn’t playing or interacting with other children,” she recalls. “He stopped laughing and singing, and I thought he was depressed.”

So she enrolled Yasser, now 13, in IRC's psychosocial support program, which helps children in the camp cope with stress and turbulent emotions. "He started playing and painting and we started to notice an improvement in him," says Jumana. "Now, whenever I see him playing the buzuq and he’s happy, I feel happy too. His happiness is my happiness."

Get to know this mother-and-son duo below—and don't forget that this is why your support matters. From now to the end of June, every veronicabeard.com order will make a donation to the IRC and help families like these.

Jumana: Before the conflict, we lived safely and comfortably. My husband was a taxi driver and he was the sole provider for the family. We left Ras el Ein because of the airstrikes—I was worried about my children’s safety. I had a heart condition, so first we went to Damascus, where I could get treatment. We had to leave after three months because we couldn’t continue staying in other people’s houses. We ended up at the camp. For the first week here, we had to sleep on the wet floor. It was winter and I would wrap the children in a big blanket so they wouldn’t get wet. That was before an organization brought us mattresses and blankets.

Yasser: My biggest fear is that we won’t ever be able to go back to Ras el Ein. Every single person in the world loves their hometown. When we had to flee, I cried; I didn’t want to leave. I miss everything about it.

Jumana: Yasser was a happy child before the conflict. He wasn’t lacking in anything. He would go to the park or the pool with his father. Here, there’s nothing like a park or pool and he has no friends. One day when we were in the market, he said that everyone there was just pretending to be happy. I told him, “Look, life goes on. They have shops and they are selling and buying. Life has to continue, it doesn’t stop for anyone.” He said “Really?” as if he didn’t believe me. I noticed his situation deteriorating with time.

Yasser: We often don’t have electricity or water. When I first arrived here, I wasn’t able to go to any kind of school. I was such a sad person—it wasn’t a nice feeling.

Jumana: In Ras el Ein, I enrolled Yasser in the cultural center because he loved music, dancing and acting. He used to perform plays on his own at home. That’s also where he started to love the buzuq.

Yasser: I started playing the buzuq when I was seven years old. I was enrolled in music and art classes, and when I saw my friends playing it they inspired me to learn as well. When we left Ras el Ein, I stopped playing. But two months ago, an organization bought a new buzuq for me and now I’m playing it again. I’m so thankful to them.

Jumana: I went to a local charity organization and registered him there. I told them my son was sad all the time and about how he loves music and really wants a buzuq. We then enrolled Yasser in the IRC’s psychosocial support activities in the camp. He started playing and painting and we started to notice an improvement in him. Now, whenever I see him playing the buzuq and he’s happy, I feel happy too. His happiness is my happiness.

Yasser: Back home, I had many friends and we used to play music together. But I haven’t seen any of them since we left and I miss them so much. There’s nothing I wish for more than to return home and play music again with my friends. Whenever I am playing music, I feel like I’m over the moon. I like it when people clap for me and when my mother kisses me after I’ve played for them. I also like drawing and painting. I paint my feelings, the sunset and many other things

Jumana: I don’t want my children to suffer like I did. I try to secure everything I possibly can for them. If Yasser likes music and art, I would like to see him be an artist. I hope he’s able to do the things I couldn’t do. I love music, life and joy, all the beautiful things in life. I love my children more than anything else.

Yasser: I would like to see Syrian children able to live like all the other children in the world. I’d like to return to my town and live in our house comfortably again and go back to school. I miss my friends and my neighborhood and everything about home.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the story subjects 

Imagery and story used with permission of the International Rescue Committee. © International Rescue Committee

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