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| Syrian girls at a refugee center in Damascus. |
May 19, 2011:
Despite the unrest in
Syria over the last few months, all SOS children and facilities in that country are safe. Children in both SOS Children’s Villages — in
Aleppo, in northern Syria, and in
Qodsaya, a Damascus suburb, continue to attend school.
However, nervousness prevails. As a precautionary measure, SOS has added security guards to all SOS facilities and increased stocks of basic supplies. Road blockades have affected transportation, preventing staff in SOS Syria’s National Office from getting to work on some days.
Although Internet access has at times been blocked from SOS facilities, general communication remains operational. Communication is most severely curtailed in the areas of unrest. Fortunately, SOS does not have projects in those locations. Aleppo is calm, and the Children’s Village in suburban Damascus is not near the turmoil.
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| Syrian children playing at the Qodsaya SOS Children's Village in Syria. |
Raising Vulnerable Syrian Children For Thirty Years
SOS has been providing stable, loving homes for Syrian children in need since 1981.
The organization has several decades of experience protecting children around the world during uncertain times.
Meanwhile, SOS Syria carries on its everyday work of helping children to reach their full potential.
An SOS Child in Syria Fulfills His Dream
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| Siblings at the Qodsaya SOS Children's Village in Syria. |
Now 31, Bassel was brought to the SOS Children’s Village near Damascus at age three by his father’s family. His grandparents were unable to raise him after his parents died.
Bassel is now a well-known musical composer who has written themes for several widely viewed TV shows. Although his road to success was difficult, the love and support he found at SOS gave him the confidence he needed to follow his dream.
"When I was six or seven, a music teacher came to give us lessons at the SOS Children's Village. I loved these lessons so much! I used to spend all my free time practicing on the keyboard."
Eventually Bassel moved to the SOS youth facility near Damascus. There he went to high school while working in a pastry shop. "I used to work extra hours to pay for music classes and to save up to buy a keyboard. It wasn't easy. Everyone thought I wouldn't be able to make a living from music.” After much scraping and saving, Bassel completed his music degree and started composing outside of work. Eventually a music producer expressed interest in one of his compositions for an upcoming TV series, and his dream came true.
Help a vulnerable child like Bassel once was grow into a happy and productive adult. Sponsor an SOS child today.
