NRS Relief’s charitable arm’s ‘Fly For Peace’ campaign lands front-page headline on The National
Fly For Peace, a first-of-its-kind campaign in the Middle East hosted by NRS International’s charitable arm Bilqees Sarwar Foundation, has earned a front-page headline in the March 25 issue of The National, the Abu Dhabi-based English language newspaper. The news report amplified our message on the importance of education in emergencies, particularly for Syrian refugee children and orphans.
The Fly For Peace kite and photo exhibition took place from 21 to 23 March during the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference & Exhibition (DIHAD) at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The three-day exhibition featured the Syrian refugee children’s artworks that reflect their hopes for a peaceful future. The event goes in line with DIHAD’s 14th edition theme of ‘The Impact of Crisis and Disasters on Children.’
Children’s dreams for the future
Seventy-five Syrian children between the ages of eight and 12 at Ufuk orphanage in Gaziantep, Turkey, took part in the Fly For Peace campaign, drawing pictures of their hopes for a peaceful future onto kites and then flying them.
According to the news report, Nour S, a volunteer at Ufuk, which houses more than 150 Syrian refugee children, said that youngsters were really excited to take part in an art performance.
“What was interesting is seeing them go out and fly the kites, because it was their first time,” she was quoted as saying. “After the field trip and when we went back home, they were out on the street refusing to stop flying their kites.”
Nour said most of the children at the orphanage were living with their mothers and had lost their fathers, the breadwinners.
“They all have access to education and we even offer the mothers, most of whom are illiterate, an opportunity to learn.”
Salma, one of the children at the orphanage, said her dream was to return to Syria, where she wants to be a doctor. Farah wanted to study astronomy at Aleppo University to discover planets. Some children, like Kareem and Fatima, wanted to be teachers and to spread the message of peace. Others, like Nour Ullah, wanted to rebuild their country.
