At the core of every child’s most urgent needs is one thing: safety. In Syria, where war has left so many children without protection, safety can mean many different things. For one child, it’s a bed in our emergency shelter after being found alone. For another, it’s psychological support to heal from the violence they’ve lived through. For others still, it’s medical care or even something as simple — and as vital — as having their name recorded on official papers. At Child Houses, safety is always the first step, and we walk with each child until safety becomes stability, and stability becomes home.
A Personalized Path for Every Child
Case Management
Every child’s journey is different, and each one has unique needs. Through case management, highly trained social workers are there to listen to each child’s story, identify their needs, and create a plan that protects their well-being — whether that means tracing family, enrolling in school, or connecting to medical care.
A Safe Place to Land
Emergency Shelter
War and poverty in Syria have left far too many children without caregivers. Our emergency shelter provides them with a safe place to land and get back on track. Here, their most basic needs are met — from nutrition and health care to psychological support and round-the-clock caregiving staff who make sure each child feels safe and cared for. This shelter serves as a temporary haven until social workers establish a long-term care plan within a family.
Healing Invisible Wounds
Psychosocial Support
Syrian children have experienced far more in their young lives than any child ever should. War, displacement, and loss have left many with invisible wounds. Part of safety means addressing those wounds by restoring childhood itself — through play, creativity, recreational activities, and team building. Our psychosocial activities help children rebuild trust, regain a sense of normalcy, and strengthen resilience. Whether in schools, shelters, or marginalized communities, these spaces give children the chance to laugh, play, and process what they’ve endured.
Protecting Rights and Futures
Referrals & Documentation
When a child needs care beyond what we can provide, we connect them to trusted partners — whether that means surgery, school enrollment, or specialized therapy. These referrals strengthen the network of support around children and families, so they are never left alone. We also ensure each child has proper documents, restoring their rights and giving them recognition in society.
What’s Next
We believe emergency shelters should be a community service, not an NGO’s permanent role. We see a future where emergency shelters are embedded in every province, managed by the government and connected to families and communities. Our role is to ensure those shelters don’t become institutions, but true short-term havens — by training social workers, guiding caregivers, and shaping systems so every child moves quickly from shelter to family.
