The profound educational crisis gripping Syria compels us to engage on multiple fronts. In Aleppo, we have established the "Minivan of life," a mobile school that brings dozens of children back to the classroom. The same educational spirit has led us to Knaye and Yacoubieh.
Here, we support the activity of the two small schools within the convents of Knaye and Yacoubieh, accommodating 50 students for whom this is the only opportunity for education. Attending school is crucial for these children and young adults; it's one of the rare places where they can focus on their growth and aspirations, away from the constant exposure to bombings, destruction, and death.
Pro Terra Sancta has also funded the only nursery in the area for the purchase of educational materials and the renovation of some damaged premises; the aim is to secure a future for these children who find it nearly impossible to access education, the primary means of self-determination and freedom.
Moreover, at the Knaye convent, we've established an Emergency and Social Assistance Center, through which we distribute food, medicine, vouchers for purchasing diesel for electricity and heating, clothes, detergents, hygiene products, diapers, and powdered milk for babies. Alongside the center, there's a post-earthquake aid and assistance project to help families left homeless or whose homes have suffered severe damage and require urgent repairs. Thanks to the project, Pro Terra Sancta has repaired 118 houses and assisted 240 families, providing them with access to water, electricity, and heating. The building renovation effort has also extended to the churches of Knaye and Yacoubieh.
