The infliction of war and military aggression upon children must be considered a violation of their basic human rights and can have a persistent impact on their physical and mental health and well-being, with long-term consequences for their development.

Over the past years, there has been an increasing number of refugees fleeing Iraq to all parts of the world, most recently peaking with the recent Iraq War. The number has increased due to the conflicts and subsequent sanctions against Iraq, which culminated in the US occupation, forcing millions of Iraqis to emigrate due to insecurity. In April 2007, there were an estimated 4 million Iraqi refugees worldwide.

IThe number of Iraqi refugees in Syria was still very high. Every time I saw children in the streets, I wondered if they were receiving a good education, since I knew that schools in Syria were already full. I did not think about good housing because I heard that Iraqis live in acceptable houses in the middle of cities and countryside.

By chance, in 2011, I received a call from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Damascus to document their efforts to support the education of Iraqi children in schools affiliated with Orthodox churches.

During my visits to these schools, I saw the joy of the children and their enthusiasm to learn and participate in activities.

I felt happy at the time because someone was able to save hundreds of children from illiteracy.

I did not realize that one day would come, and we ourselves would become refugees and our children would share schools with other children.

In this place I present a small selection of what I documented in these schools and the children's faces and eyes that speak.