‘Nothing is impossible’: Syrian refugee who fled bombs and became a star student

The international community is failing in its promise to provide the funding needed to send all Syrian refugees to school. A report published today by the children国产视频檚 charity 国产视频 says governments have not delivered on pledges made at the Supporting Syria and the Region conference in February.

The cover of the report shows Mohammed听Ammar Said Koshak. This is his inspiring story.

Mohammed overcame the odds to become a success at school

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Mohammed was a young boy when the conflict began in Syria. The constant bombing in the Damascus suburb of Daraya meant he went to school less and less often.

In 2012, after 11 days of non-stop shelling, his family took their chance and fled to neighbouring Lebanon, taking only what they could carry. Among the things they left behind were Mohammed国产视频檚 school certificates 国产视频� and that meant he missed out on a year of education in his new country.

When he did get back into a classroom, the lessons were in English, not Arabic. So the teenager had to learn a new language and a whole new curriculum.

READ THE REPORT ON EDUCATION FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES

TELL WORLD LEADERS TO KEEP THEIR PROMISE

Mohammed听Ammar Said Koshak is now 16. Amazingly 国产视频� despite all the upheaval and the obstacles 国产视频� he ranked second in the country in the recent Brevet, or secondary school certificate examinations.

Beirut-based writer Tabitha Ross said: 国产视频淲hen I heard that a Syrian boy had come second in all of Lebanon, I assumed it would be a child from a background of privilege, whose parents could afford to send him to a private school and whose education had not been interrupted by the war. I could not have been more wrong.国产视频�

Mohammed said: 国产视频淲hen I was in grade seven, we started having to leave school early because of the bombing. We used to hide in the bathroom.

国产视频淓ven when school was open, it was very interrupted 国产视频� we国产视频檇 be two days in school, then two days out, depending on the ceasefires and the bombing.国产视频�

The teenager studies at his home in Lebanon

When his family arrived in Lebanon, he had to wait for a year to get new school certificates. During that time, he helped his father Said at the restaurant where he worked.

国产视频淲e had no books,国产视频� said Mohammed. 国产视频淣othing to read or revise or to do and the alternative education centres are only for the younger kids.国产视频�

When he finally got into a Lebanese school, he and his brothers and sisters would translate their lessons from English to Arabic 国产视频� then write the answers back into English.

国产视频淚t took six or seven hours a听 day just to do the homework,国产视频� he said. 国产视频淚国产视频檇 sleep just six hours a night. If I wasn国产视频檛 asleep, I was at school or studying.国产视频�

But it国产视频檚 all been worth it for Mohammed, who wants to become a doctor.

His parents Said and Rabia are committed to education. Said works for 18 hours a day at two jobs to pay for his children国产视频檚 school books and transportation.

He said: 国产视频淲hen I was young I had to work in the afternoons to pay for going to school in the mornings. And then I had to leave school for good at 14.听

国产视频淓ducation is so important and this is why I work so hard so that my children can have the opportunity I did not.国产视频�

Mohammed said every Syrian refugee should have the same opportunity to shine as him. He added: 国产视频淣othing is impossible. They should work hard and complete their education to be able to go back to rebuild our country.国产视频�

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