Country: Syrian Arab Republic Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Syria | 2024 | CBPFSyria. Growing up, Yassin watched other children rush off to school each morning, their backpacks swinging as they laughed and played. He longed to join them, to sit in a classroom, to learn, to dream. But for years, the lack of accessible facilities meant his dream was an unreachable goal. Lower limb paralysis prevented him from joining in.Like many children with disabilities in Syria — 28 per cent of whom face mobility or developmental challenges — Yassin encountered a harsh reality: schools were not designed for him. Entrances were too high, toilets were inaccessible, and the very structure of the learning environment excluded him. His right to education, recognised in international agreements, remained an unfulfilled promise.Yassin’s mother, a devoted teacher, did everything she could to include him in education. Since he couldn’t enrol in school, he accompanied her to her workplace—a girls’ school run by World Vision Syria Response.Though surrounded by books and lessons, Yassin felt out of place. “I was happy to be near learning, but I wanted to be with my friends,” he recalls.His eagerness to learn encouraged his mother to continue searching for a place where he could thrive. When she heard that World Vision Syria Response was working to improve accessibility in a boys’ school, she saw a glimmer of hope. Soon, Yassin was able to attend school, just like every other child.Thanks to support from the OCHA-managed Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund, 20,000 children have received educational services and psychological care, as well as access to accessible schooling.The school underwent crucial modifications—ramps replaced stairs, classrooms were adapted, and accessible restrooms were installed. Yassin also received a wheelchair, ensuring he could move freely and comfortably. For the first time, education was within his reach: “I was thrilled when my mother told me I could go to school with my friends,” Yassin smiles.Posted June 2025Lightly adapted from an original story from World Vision InternationalMore information on the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian FundPooled Fund impact stories