Child Protection Syrian Arab Republic Project #51554

Help the Syrian children!

by Associazione pro Terra Sancta

Project Report | Mar 5, 2026
Beyond Infrastructure: Rebuilding through Art

By Giulia Camuffo | Project Associate

Sumaya and her students

From late December to early January, Syria faced intensified fighting between government forces and Kurdish groups. This recent escalation led to the evacuation of numerous neighborhoods, forcing many families into displacement once again. After more than a decade of war, the country remains trapped in a cycle of conflict that prevents the population from achieving any lasting stability.

In a land so deeply scarred, rebuilding is not just about infrastructure—it is about restoring the very rhythm of life. Sumaya Halak, a soprano born in Geneva to an Aleppine father, decided to pause her career on the great international stages to return to her roots. Her project, “One, Two, Three, Hope, Love, Life,” is more than a music school; it is an act of faith in the middle of Aleppo.

"The music works from within," Sumaya says. Today, she has chosen a life of service over the spotlight, missing world-class auditions to stay by the side of those who have lost everything.

The center currently serves as a hub for fifteen core students and many more families, offering courses in piano, guitar, singing, and dance, alongside essential literacy and educational games. However, the true transformation happens in the "Circle of Peace." Every session begins with a shared declaration:

"I am light, I am love, I am life, I am trust, I am friendship, I am truth, I am respect. We are peace."

These aren't just words; they are way intended to heal. We are seeing the fruits of this "vibrational medicine" in every corner of the center.

These are not just words; they are tools for healing. We are seeing the results of this approach in every corner of the center. For instance, Mohammed, who had retreated into total silence due to trauma, found his voice again during a sound relaxation session.

Our Ongoing Commitment

Not every story is a victory yet. We still face the heartbreak of child marriages and the consequences of the latest conflicts. When the sounds of war return, the center is often forced to close its doors abruptly. But as Sumaya says, "We cannot make world peace, but we can make small acts of internal peace."

Through your support, we continues to provide:

Artistic & Psychological Recovery: Using music and dance to treat trauma and mutism in children.
Educational Discipline: Teaching the "rules of art" to help youth regain a sense of responsibility and future.
A 'Noah's Ark' of Solidarity Supporting Sumaya’s vision of an all-female orchestra and a sustainable safety net to protect, shelter, and reunite the most vulnerable families during times of crisis.

Sumaya’s music does not drown out the noise of war, but it gives rhythm to the courage of an entire neighborhood. With every "bonjour" and every C-minor chord, a window of hope opens. Together, we are building a "sea of love" where no one believed it was possible anymore.

The Center "One, Two, Three, Hope, Love, Life,"

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Oct 23, 2025
Anjie's Light, Anjoun's Smile

By Emma Garroni | Project assistant

Anjoun

Months have passed since the attack that struck the Church of Mar Elias in Damascus, yet its echoes are still felt in the hearts of those who survived. Syria, a land scarred by more than a decade of war, continues to struggle between fragile peace and renewed fear.

When the bomb exploded that June evening, fifteen-year-old Anjie was simply lighting a candle. She wanted to pray before her exams the next day — a small gesture of hope in a country where daily life has become an act of courage. Her death left her family devastated. For years, Pro Terra Sancta had supported them with medicines and basic aid. Now, our mission has become even more personal: to stand beside them in their grief, to make sure they are not left alone.

In the same tragedy, little Anjoun lost his father. For weeks he refused to leave his mother’s side, asking when they would finally go out for the ice cream his father had promised him that night. Slowly, thanks to the loving care of the Sisters at the kindergarten in Tabbaleh — supported by Pro Terra Sancta — he has begun to smile again. At school, drawing and playing with other children, he is taking his first steps back toward life.

Every day in Syria, stories like theirs remind us that rebuilding is not only about walls and water pipes — it is about rebuilding hearts. Our teams in Damascus, Aleppo, Knaye and Yacoubieh continue to provide families with food, medicine, and education:

Material assistance: distribution of essential goods and medical support to families in Damascus and surrounding villages.
Psychological and educational support: accompaniment of children like Anjoun through school activities, safe spaces, and close collaboration with local religious communities.
Community rebuilding: promoting dialogue and small-scale initiatives aimed at restoring trust among families divided by years of conflict and fear.

But above all, we offer presence: a hand to hold, a reason to believe that life can begin again.

Memorial to the victims in the church of Mar Elias

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Jun 10, 2025
"I felt that music had become a part of me"

By Emma Garroni | Project Leader

"My name is Rima and I am 17 years old. When my mother enrolled me in the music center, I saw many different instruments, but the piano was my first choice. I started learning it little by little and, over time, I felt that music had become part of me."

This is Rima's voice, clear and crystalline in the happiness of having discovered a new language that allows her to express a deep part of herself. Rima lives in Damascus and has Down syndrome: her mother deeply believes in Rima's ability to learn and grow, and is always by her side in this quest.

"Music gives comfort and allows you to express yourself, so I wanted Rima to learn this art" she explains. "When I discovered the Franciscan Music Centre run by Pro Terra Sancta and the advantages it offered – such as a symbolic inscription and the evident progress in the children who attended it – I knew it would be the right step for her."

"I won't hide the fact that at first I was afraid. I was afraid that Rima might be rejected or that people would think she couldn't learn like others. But I was surprised by the great welcome and availability of the entire team."

"I express my deepest gratitude to all those who have contributed to the Musical Centre with their commitment and dedication". The mother is moved to see her daughter happy, while mastering a language that will help her build sensitivity and openness to the world, a precious gift that is more necessary than ever.

"Her path in music was not just a technical exercise," explain the teachers, "but a story of challenge and creativity. It is the story of a girl who did not let anything stop her and a mother who always believed in her." Thanks to Pro terra Sancta's Franciscan Care Centre, Rima's dreams to be able to fully express herself became true.

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