The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-4.jpg

Yahya, 13 years, holds a passport photo of himself, in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œThis is a photo of me. Itâ€™s my memory. It means a lot to me because it was taken for my school registration form. I was in the first grade for only one week and then we had to come here.â€ â€œI have memories from this time, both good and bad. I remember how my school looked â€“ it was beautiful. I had started making friends and playing football. â€œBut the bad memories are of the war, when we were under bombing. I want to forget this memory and the memory of the journey here.â€ â€œIt was nighttime when we left Syria and we could hardly see the road in front of us. We moved through valleys full of thorns that hurt when we stepped on them. People started throwing away their belongings because of how hard the journey was â€“ anything heavy had to go. I had to leave behind my school books, my pens and my colours because my mum told me too. She said it wouldnâ€™t be long before we came back home. But itâ€™s been six years.â€ He is now in sixth grade. â€œSchool is good here.â€ When he grows up, he wants to be a forensic doctor. â€œEverything has changed â€“ my school, my home, my friends. I wish I had the power to restore Syria.â€ He keeps his photo safe so he can remember his past when he looks at it. â€œThis photo is part of my childhood. When I look at this photo, it makes me smile to see myself and Iâ€™m happy to have a memory of when I was younger in Syria.â€ â€œI was only six then. Now my biggest wish is to return to Syria and see my house and my school. I want Syria to be safe once again.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of th Â© UNICEF/UN0264920/Herwig

Unicef/Herwig