The Liberation of Syria

Celebrations and preparations for the future

What a night! We are looking back on 8 December 2024, the Day of Liberation of Syria from more than 54 years of dictatorship under the Assad regime. In Akkar, the region of our Peace Centre in the far north of Lebanon, thousands poured into the streets and unfurled the Free Syrian banners that had been hidden for so many years. Our Syrian youth leaders shared their joy on social media and organised celebrations in our centres. One can hardly imagine the emotions after years of hardship, often without official status or legal protection, in the camps of Lebanon.

Our association will stand in solidarity with all those we serve -Lebanese and Syrians- regardless of their background or beliefs. Most of our Syrian staff members and volunteers have returned to Syria for their first visit. We have also conducted a survey among the families of our students to learn more about their plans and intentions. It appears that 23% of them have already resettled permanently. Many more wish to return within the coming year, but their homes are still destroyed.

Please read more below to learn about the detailed results of our survey. The results are very relevant for the future orientation of our work.

Flash survey among our Syrian students in Akkar

About half of our students in the Akkar region of Lebanon are Lebanese, the other half Syrians. Amongst the 407 Syrian students currently inscribed in the R&R learning centres, 313 replied to our flash survey via WhatsApp. 23% reported that their families have already resettled to Syria within the first two months after the fall of the Assad regime. 63% more wish to return as soon as possible, about half of them within the coming months (29% of all respondents) and the other half after the end of the year. Only 14% are saying that their families don’t want to return at all.

The most important reason for delays in the return plans is the housing situation in Syria. 70% of all respondents amongst our Syrian students in Lebanon were telling us that their old house or apartment is completely destroyed. Another 16% said that their house was partially destroyed. 8% didn’t own a house and only 6% said that their house is still standing. In the current situation, with a huge amount of debt and family income that is hardly covering the survival minimum, most families cannot afford the reconstruction of their homes. Many of them have been asking for help.

We will keep you updated on our assessments and plans for the future. We hope to accompany the families of our students to Syria and expand our work there. Most of our Syrian students come originally from the Homs Governorate. Within the Homs Governorate, the city of Qusayr is the municipality from where the highest number of our students had been expelled. Qusayr is also the city in which our mentor and co-founder, Father Paolo Dall’Oglio, had been fasting for reconciliation in 2012, just before his expulsion from Syria by the Assad regime.

Our work in Lebanon will continue, with Lebanese students and all others in need, but we wish to open new Peace Centres inside Syria. We don’t yet know what the future holds, but we are certain that the fall of the Assad regime brings new hope to millions. After the victory of the Syrian Revolution, it is now time for justice and peace.

Please support our work with a generous donation! We are relying on your help to continue our work for relief and reconciliation in Syria.