Faith Leaders Driving Change for Women and Girls
What if one of the most powerful tools for advancing gender equality was already embedded within communities themselves?
Back to School: How Accessibility Changed Abdul's Future
For years, Abdul Qader was unable to attend school. Neither his village nor the school were accessible for wheelchair users. Today, that has changed. Thanks to major improvements to the school, Abdul can move around independently, charge his wheelchair and participate fully in class.
"It has made an enormous difference to my life. I feel much freer now. I can take part in what is happening around me,"
Abdul says with a smile.
Turkan Elementary School, located outside Aleppo, serves around 200 children from the village and surrounding communities. Before rehabilitation work began, the school grounds were unsafe and difficult to access. Traffic regularly passed through the schoolyard, and poor drainage meant that rainfall turned the area into deep mud, making it nearly impossible for Abdul to get around.
The school buildings were also in poor condition, with leaking roofs and damaged infrastructure that posed safety risks for both students and teachers.
Transforming a learning environment
Today, the school has been fully rehabilitated. The grounds have been drained and paved, a fence has been installed around the site, and the buildings have been repaired and renovated. Classrooms have been refreshed, and colourful murals help make the school a welcoming place for children.
Separate toilet facilities have been established for girls and boys, alongside an accessible toilet designed for people with disabilities.
The village still lacks a reliable electricity network, but the school now benefits from a stable source of renewable energy through self-cleaning solar panels that can operate effectively in dry and dusty conditions.
For Abdul, this has been life-changing.
"I can now charge my wheelchair at school. I can move around the whole area without needing help,"
he says.
Access that creates opportunity
According to Håvard Hovdhaugen, Norwegian Church Aid's Area Director for Lebanon and Syria, access to basic services is essential for children's education.
"Reliable access to clean water and energy is crucial for children to attend school in Syria. For children with disabilities, these basic improvements can mean the difference between exclusion and education."
At a time when many Syrian children remain out of school, Abdul's story demonstrates what becomes possible when schools are designed to be safe, inclusive and accessible to everyone.
The improvements are about more than infrastructure. They create a learning environment where all children can participate, learn, and develop alongside their peers.
The solar-powered system also helps ensure that the school can continue to operate despite ongoing challenges affecting energy access and fuel costs.
A love of learning
For the first time in his life, Abdul has had the opportunity to learn how to read and write. He now attends lessons alongside other children, something that once seemed impossible.
"It has been so important for me to return to school. I love learning,"
he says.
As part of the rehabilitation project, the school community has also received training on hygiene and handwashing to help prevent illness and reduce student absences.
When asked about the future, Abdul already knows what he wants to do.
"I would like to become a teacher. I want to teach Arabic."
Investing in inclusive education
The rehabilitation of Turkan Elementary School is one example of how investments in education can create lasting opportunities for children and communities. By improving access to clean water, renewable energy and disability-inclusive facilities, schools can become places where every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive.
Norwegian Church Aid and its partners continue to support initiatives that strengthen access to education and help build more inclusive communities for children across Syria.
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