Raqqa, Syria – In a city that once stood at the heart of devastation, a quiet transformation is unfolding—one rooted not in bricks and mortar, but in words, numbers, and hope. Through a powerful education project launched in Raqqa, DOZ Syria is helping rebuild the future by restoring the right to learn for some of the most vulnerable members of the community: out-of-school children and women who were never given the chance to read or write.

After years of conflict, poverty, and displacement, thousands of children in Raqqa remain out of school. Many never enrolled. Others dropped out due to war, trauma, or economic hardship. At the same time, countless women—especially those above the age of 18—have lived their entire lives without basic literacy skills.

In response, DOZ Syria launched an inclusive, community-based education initiative focused on:

• Out-of-school children and children with learning difficulties
• Women aged 18+ seeking to gain literacy and confidence

Over the course of the project, DOZ Syria implemented three full learning cycles, each lasting three months. These cycles were not just about teaching—they were about empowerment, dignity, and rebuilding identity through knowledge.

For Children:

• 220 children received remedial education in Arabic, Mathematics, and English
• Children were supported in catching up with peers and regaining their love for learning
• Many of them received school bags and essential educational materials to begin their learning journey with dignity

For Women:

• 120 women participated in adult literacy courses, learning to read and write for the first time
• Women shared stories of feeling more independent, confident, and hopeful about their futures

But the impact went beyond classrooms.

DOZ Syria facilitated 10 community-based peacebuilding initiatives, bringing together internally displaced persons (IDPs) and residents of Raqqa in shared learning spaces. These gatherings served as opportunities to build trust, solidarity, and social cohesion in a city still recovering from conflict. “Education is our way back to each other,” one local teacher shared. “It’s how we heal our communities from the inside out.”

This project is more than a set of classes—it is a testament to DOZ Syria’s commitment to inclusive, non-formal education in areas where formal systems still struggle to reach. It’s about ensuring no child is too far behind to catch up, and no woman is too old to learn.

Through knowledge, we restore power.
Through community, we build peace.
Through education, we reclaim the future.

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