Resources

Five essential pillars for promoting and protecting mental health in schools and learning environments: a briefing note for national governments  Mental health and psychosocial well-being are fundamental to health and well-being, and influence academic, social, and economic outcomes across the lifespan. This short briefing note is intended for policy makers, national governments, mental health and education coalitions and advocates. It outlines key policy recommendations to strengthen education systems to protect and promote the mental health and psychosocial well-being of children and adolescents, including support for their teachers and caregivers.

No Lost Generation is releasing its annual report, covering progress and activities from August 2021 to August 2022, notably its regional MHPSS conference, its report on inclusive education for refugees and host communities in Jordan and its event together with Malcom H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center and many other activities. The report also includes evidence on the impact of No Lost Generation online and a funding gaps analysis of the Syrian Humanitarian Response Plan and the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan.

The Syrian crisis has caused disruptions to children’s and youth’s education for over a decade. The COVID-19 pandemic, with the related school closures, has added an additional burden to the existing situation, impacting learning outcomes worldwide. Assessing the status of Syrian youth’s competencies in literacy, numeracy and life skills, is essential in order to plan and implement better programmes to help them catch up on their learning losses. The ultimate goal is to support them to be able to go back into the main education streams or provide them with basic skills to cope with daily needs in their personal and professional environments. The ‘Literacy and Life Skills Assessment of Syrian Youth’ (LLASY) study measures Syrian youth’s current literacy and numeracy levels and their life skills in terms of certain minimum proficiency levels.

In December 2021, the World Vision Syria Response undertook a context analysis to identify specific child protection needs and challenges faced by children in its areas of operation in Northwest Syria (NWS) and to better understand the root causes and risk factors. World Vision’s Analysis, Design and Planning Tool for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPHA ADAPT) was used. The tool included local level community conversations with children and adults, combined with a policy review and analysis of child protection challenges in NWS. This in-depth understanding of existing child protection issues and systemic gaps has been sought to inform programmatic priorities, programme designs and intervention strategies to address violence against children (VAC) in NWS.

Explosive ordnance (EO) puts one in two people in Syria at risk of death and injury and impedes the delivery of crucial humanitarian assistance. However, the extent of EO in Syria and its devastating impact is not sufficiently known or discussed among donors and humanitarian actors. International humanitarian mine action (HMA) actors operating in Syria for over ten years have come together to address this gap, sharing data and insight from their work on the ground. They produced a report to highlight the extent of EO contamination in Syria; its devastating impact on people, vital infrastructure and provision of humanitarian assistance; the crucial activities performed by humanitarian mine action (HMA) actors; and the action required to address this issue. The main findings of this report are summarised here.

Adolescence (age 10-19) is a time of exceptionally rapid growth marked not only by physical transformation into an adult body, but also by equally rapid brain development. In addition to physical and cognitive changes, social changes occur that stem from greater exposure to people, social contexts and ideas. Given these concurrent development changes, it is not surprising that adolescence is a particularly sensitive period for the emergence of mental health conditions. Indeed, it is estimated that more than 13 per cent of adolescents globally live with a mental disorder, and many more experience significant psychosocial distress that does not rise to the level of a diagnosable disorder. The most widespread of these mental health conditions include symptoms of anxiety and depression, with rates increasing dramatically throughout adolescence, particularly among girls. Other prevalent challenges include drug and alcohol abuse, conduct disorders, eating disorders and suicidal behaviours. Taken together, approximately 74 per cent of lifetime mental health conditions manifest by age 24. To better understand mental health issues and concerns from the voices of adolescents, 71 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted by 14 partner organizations in 13 countries: Belgium (francophone and Flemish), Chile, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States of America. The countries were selected to ensure geographic, economic and cultural diversity. This report summarizes the results of these FGDs with qualitative research coordinated, analysed and drafted by the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Global Early Adolescent Study (GEAS) in collaboration with global partners and as part of UNICEF’s flagship report, The State of the World’s Children 2021: On My Mind – Promoting, protecting and caring for children’s mental health.  

No Lost Generation education pillar releases its annual education brief, giving an update on access to education for Syrian children in Syria and host countries and on the financial requirements of the education sectors in the 3RP and HRP. Over a decade into the conflict in Syria, lifelong relevant learning opportunities for quality inclusive education and skills acquisition services need to remain available, accessible, predictable, and continuous for all children, adolescents and youth in Syria and the five key host countries namely Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. Within the framework of Regional Refugee Response Plan (3RP) and Humanitarian Response plans, the efforts by national governments and partners to support the continuity of learning for both Syrian refugee and host community children are to be commended. The latest comprehensive data available reveals that an estimated 5.6 million Syrian children are engaged in learning opportunities inside and outside of Syria. However, with countries grappling to address learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic on top of existing barriers and challenges, there is an estimated 4 million out of school children in Syria and host countries, which represents an increase of 4 percent compared to 2020. The disruption of learning for children and youth exposes them to increased protection risks, such as gender-based violence, child marriage, child labor, and exploitation.

On 28 April 2022, No Lost Generation (NLG) members consulted with a group of Syrian and Palestine Refugees from Syria (PRS) adolescents and youths in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Syria to discuss their concerns, suggested solutions and hopes for the future ahead of the Brussels VI conference of 9-10 May 2022. The group included 6 young women between the ages of 16 and 24, most of whom were still studying at school or university, and residing in Lebanon’s host community, as well as Zaatari, Azraq and Baqa’a camps in Jordan. Two young men with disabilities aged 16 and 17 years old from Azraq camp also took part in the discussion. And lastly, a youth officer from a local Syrian NGO based in Turkey was conveying key messages from young women and girls in Northwest Syria. The discussion revolved around five key discussion themes: 1. Daily challenges faced by children, youth and their families 2. Impact of the humanitarian response and other suggested solutions 3. Hopes and dreams for the future 4. Key messages for stakeholders meeting at the Brussels conference 5. And lastly, some messages of hope for the young generations impacted by the recent conflict in Ukraine As major stakeholders in the Syrian crisis response meet in Brussels this week, it is crucial that the voices of Syrian youth continue to be heard andtaken into consideration. Now is not the time to let them down!

Ahead of the Brussels VI Conference - Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region, No Lost Generation is releasing an advocacy brief highlighting that the needs of Syrian children have never been more urgent, despite the decreasing international attention on Syria. 2022 has seen the highest number of girls and boys in need ever recorded. Syria continues to be a unsafe place for a child to live. Grave violations against children in conflict have continued, including the killing and maiming of children and attacks on schools. The ripple effects of 11 years of war, destruction and the dramatic economic downturn have increased psychological distress of children and their families. In camps, children are struggling to survive, with many separated from their families. Moreover, 2.4 million children continues to be out of school in Syria. In Lebanon, the economic crisis is having a devastating impact on key public health and education services. With the increase in food prices, food security has become a major concern. This is also creating a mental health toll for children and their families, with more youth presenting signs of psychiatric disorder. The worsening economic situation has pushed three in ten youths to stop their education. Facing this unprecedented challenges, No Lost Generation recommends that all stakeholders involved in the Syria crisis response: 1. Work together with all stakeholders to bring an end to the conflict. 2. Protect children at all costs. 3. Preserve humanitarian assistance channels serving those in need. 4. Strengthen gender responsive humanitarian assistance and engage women's and youth organizations. 5. Invest in long term, reliable and flexible funding to protect and scale up durable solutions - including early recovery and resilience-focused initiatives, for Syrian children, in Syria and in host countries. 6. Empower communities and expand social protection schemes, to ensure that children and their families can cope with the multiple challenges they face. Syrian children are hanging in there, but they cannot do it alone. They still need our support.

Around 57,000 people live in Al Hol camp in North East Syria, the vast majority of them are children. 50% of the camp’s population are under the age of 12. Originally established in 1991, Al Hol was reopened in 2016 when anti-ISIS operations began in Iraq, sending thousands of Iraqi civilians across the border into Syria in search of safety. From 2016 to 2018 there was an influx of Syrian internally displaced people (IDPs). During the final offensive against ISIS in Hajin and Baghouz in early 2019, the camp’s population skyrocketed from approximately 9,800 people to over 73,000 people. While security incidents are not new in the camp, including attacks against security personnel, arson, escape attempts, and fights between residents, from April 2019 the security situation has significantly deteriorated, after the first recorded murder. Since then, there have been at least 130 murders, including eight children, and 46 attacks/attempted murders. The pace of the murders increased substantially from September 2020 onwards. From April 2019- September 2020, there were 25 murders. Since then, there have been 106 murders, including at least 4 in 2022 alone. In 2021, this amounted to an average of more than two people killed per week and made Al Hol- per capita- one of the most dangerous places in the world. The overwhelming majority (98%) of these attacks have taken place in Al Hol’s Main Camp, home to Syrian and Iraqi men, women and children. The pervasive insecurity has had a profound effect on children’s fundamental rights, their sense of safety, their psychological well-being, their education and their hopes for the future. Children have seen murders directly and hear and share graphic descriptions of other attacks. They worry that their siblings and especially their parents will be killed. Most are now forbidden from playing outside. Many of them have nightmares. Others have lost interest in going to school. These are pressures and fears that no child should have to carry. Their parents, deeply fearful themselves, struggle to manage their children’s reactions to this daily threat of violence and its aggregate impact on their behavior and their healthy development. This report examines the impact that the violence has had on children’s lives- their experience and understanding of the violence; the impact on their mental health and well-being; and the measures that parents and children take to try to keep themselves safe. It concludes with a series of recommendations to provide support for children and their families.

This new report investigates the impacts of the Syrian war in some of the hardest-to-reach places. It focuses on the so-called “widow camps”, home to tens of thousands of widows and other single women - including women who are divorced or whose husbands are missing - and their children, living in the 28 accessible camps across northwest Syria (NW Syria). These women and their children face chronic and high levels of violence, including neglect, verbal, physical and sexual abuse, as well as child marriage and child labour. Boys are especially at risk of recruitment into armed groups, and later radicalisation. This is because boys older than 11 are considered male adults by the community and are forced to leave the camps, with no place to go, no employment prospects and no future.

Equitas education was commissioned by Save the Children, UNICEF, and the World Food Programme, to carry out a study  the study on out-of-school children in the MENA region, covering 2015-2020. The study’s focus countries are Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Turkey, and Yemen over the years 2015-2020. The study focuses on four specific areas of inquiry. Documenting the main trends of OOSC, including their numbers, profiles, and locations; Analysing the barriers and motivating factors that prevent or facilitate children’s participation and retention in education; Understanding the nature of policies and programmes in the study areas that target access, retention and learning outcomes for OOSC; Recommending specific areas for further study and identifying potential responses to the findings and conclusions.