Children who have suffered from the traumas of war and earthquakes in the Şêxmeqsûd (Sheikh Maqsoud) and Eşrefiye (Ashrafiyah) neighbourhoods of Aleppo receive a wide range of training offered by the Shiler Children's Committee Centre.

13-year-old Evin Resho is one of the children affected by the war in the region. The conflict that took place in two neighbourhoods between 2012 and 2016, and the earthquake that hit Syria and many regions of Turkey on February 6 negatively affected the psychology of children. The education Evin received at the Shiler Children's Committee Centre had a positive impact on her life.

Evin said: “I have been visiting the committee centre for a month now. I socialized with my friends and loved learning here and I am very happy. I came to recognize respect for others, friendship and culture. I am happy about this. I don't want to use my cell phone like I used to. Also, I try to learn more. Learning helps me and reveals my identity.”

In order to keep children away from violent incidents, the Shiler Children's Committee Centre opened a branch in Şêxmeqsûd on March 12 and provides training for children. About 50 children aged 7-13 receive education at the Children's Committee Centre in the west of Aleppo's Şêxmeqsûd neighbourhood.

Science, sports and health are also taught at the centre, which children can visit from 10 am to 3 pm every weekday except Fridays during the summer holiday. 

Semire Bekir, a member of the Executive Committee of the Aleppo Shiler Children's Committee, said: “We embrace all children without discrimination. Our only goal is to keep children away from the effects of war and the streets.”

Bekir continued: “Most children spend time on the streets. To overcome this, the committee opened its doors to children and introduced them to science and knowledge.”

Since there is an intense interest in the courses, the Children's Committee Centre is planning to expand the work soon.