Children don’t choose where they live or what resources they have access to, yet childhood experiences form the foundation for adulthood. Childhood trauma, including disrupted education, causes lasting damage, and this issue is prevalent in kids living in conflict zones like in Yemen and Syria. Children cannot mitigate these risks, but we can.
When children are exposed to conflict, both their lives and their futures are imperiled. In conflict zones, schools are often deliberately bombed, torched and destroyed – sometimes resulting in student and teacher deaths. Children are left without access to safe, quality learning environments that are essential to their growth and well-being. Schools should be protected and play a supportive role after traumatic events, by providing structure, opportunities for self-expression and caring guardians.