Euroscola Competiton

2015/16
So many children in Syria,
But no Childhood..
Irish and Syrian flags.
Region: Middle east

Population: 22,878,524

Capital: Damascus

Climate: The warm season is

from May 29 to
September 25, average
temp 32°C. The hottest
day is July 27, with an
average high of 37°C
and low of 19°C.
The cold season is from
November 28 to March,
average temp 17°C. The
coldest day is January
16, with an average low
of 1°C and high of 12°C.

Languages: Arabic, Kurdish,

Armenian,
Aramaic,
Circassian,
Facts
about
French.

Currency: Piastres.

Holidays: National day-17th april

Unity day-22nd february.

Area total: 185,180

Syria.
Region: Europe

Population: 4,609,600 (2014 Est.

Capital: Dublin

Area total: 70,273 km2 (27,133 sq mi ) Water

(%) 2.00

Area land: 6.9million hectares

Coastline: 3172km

Climate: Ireland's climate is influenced

most by the Atlantic Ocean. As a
result, it doesn't have the
extreme temperatures that other
countries at similar latitude would
Facts
about
have. The average temperature is
a mild 50°F. major warm ocean
current called the North Atlantic
Drift keeps sea temperatures mild
tooA

Languages: English,
Irish
Ireland.
Currency: Euro
 * Culture of Syria

• Food in Daily Life. Wheat is the main crop and one of the staple foods. Vegetables, fruits, and dairy
products also are eaten. Lamb is popular, but most people cannot afford to eat meat on a regular basis.
Islam proscribes the consumption of pork, and other meats must be specially prepared in a method
called halal cooking. In middle-class and wealthier homes, meals are like those eaten in other Middle
Eastern countries: roast or grilled chicken or lamb with side dishes of rice, chickpeas, yogurt, and
vegetables. A mezzeh is a midday meal composed of up to twenty or thirty small dishes. Popular fruits that
are grown in the region include dates, figs, plums, and watermelons.

• Tea is the ubiquitous drink and is often consumed at social gatherings. Soda is also very popular, as is
milk and a drink made by mixing yogurt with water, salt, and garlic. Alcohol consumption is rare, as it is
forbidden by the Islamic religion, but beer and wine are available, as is arak, an aniseed drink that also is
popular in other Middle Eastern countries.

• Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Food is an important part of many celebrations. During

Ramadan, each day's fast is broken with an evening meal called iftar. This meal begins in silence and is
consumed rapidly. Eid al-Fitr, the final breaking of the Ramadan fast, entails the consumption of large
quantities of food, sweets in particular. Food is also a central element at weddings, parties, and other
festivities.
Commercial Activities. The center of commercial activity in each town or city is the souk.
People from all walks of life and all ethnic and religious backgrounds come together to buy and
sell a wide variety of goods. Spices, meats, vegetables, cloth, traditional handicrafts, and
imported products jostle for space in the crowded booths and alleyways. Souks are not just
commercial centers but gathering places as well, and haggling is a necessary part of social
interactions. Shopping centers and supermarkets exist but have not supplanted this uniquely
Arab institution.

Secular Celebrations. The major secular holidays are New Year's Day on 1 January,
Revolution Day on 8 March, and the anniversary of the formation of the Arab League, 22
March. Syrians celebrate Martyrs Day in memory of the nation's heroes on 6 April; National
Day (also known as Evacuation Day, celebrating independence), on 17 April; and the Day of
Mourning on 29 November.

Music of syria. The music of Syria largely emanates from the country's capital Damascus

 and the largest city Aleppo. Syria has long been one of the Arab world's centers for cultural
and artistic innovation, especially in the field of classical Arab music.
.

History of the crisis in

Syria…
1.Uprising turns violent
Pro-democracy protests erupted in March 2011 in the southern city
of Derria after the arrest and torture of some teenagers who painted
revolutionary slogans on a school wall. After security forces opened fire on
demonstrators killing several, more took to the streets

2. Descent into civil war

* Violence escalated and the country descended into civil war as

rebel brigades were formed to battle government forces for
control of cities,towns and the countryside. Fighting reached the capital
Damascus and the second city of Aleppo in 2012.
* By June 2013, the UN said 90,000 people had been killed in
the conflict. However, by August 2014 that figure had more
than doubled to 191,000 - and continued to climb to 250,000 by August
2015, according to activists and the UN.
3. Chemical weapons
Hundreds of people were killed in August 2013 after
rockets filled with the nerve agent sarin were fired at
several agricultural districts around Damascus. Western
powers, outraged by the attack, said it could only have
been carried out by Syria's government. The regime and
its ally Russia blamed rebels.

4. Humantarian crisis
More than four million people have fled Syria since the
start of the conflict, most of them women and children. It
is one of the largest refugee exoduses in recent history. A
further 7.6 million Syrians have been internally displaced
within the country, bringing the total number forced to
flee their homes to more than 11 million - half the
country's pre-crisis population. Overall, an estimated 12.2
million are in need of humanitarian assistance inside
Syria, including 5.6 million children, the UN says.
5. Proxy war
What began as another Arab Spring uprising against
an autocratic ruler has mushroomed into a brutal
proxy war that has drawn in regional and world
powers.
Iran and Russia have propped up the Alawite-led
government of President Assad and gradually
increased their support.
Tehran is believed to be spending billions of dollars
a year to bolster Mr Assad, providing military
advisers and subsidised weapons, as well as lines of
credit and oil transfers. In September 2015, Russia
launched an air campaign against Mr Assad's
opponents. Moscow said it was targeting only "all
terrorists", above all members of Islamic State, but
many of the strikes hit Western-backed rebels and
civilians.
Refugee crisis
Syria crisis: Fast facts
• 13.5 million people in Syria need humanitarian assistance. 1
• 4.3 million Syrians are refugees, and 6.6 million are displaced within Syria; half
are children.2
• Most Syrian refugees remain in the Middle East, in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq,
and Egypt; slightly more than 10 percent of the refugees have traveled to
Europe.3
• Children affected by the Syrian conflict are at risk of becoming ill, malnourished,
abused, or exploited. Millions have been forced to quit school.
-
 
What’s so urgent now?
• Winter is coming: Refugees in settlements have fewer resources than ever before.
They need adequate food, warm clothes, shoes, blankets, heaters, and fuel.

• In Lebanon alone, aid agencies estimate that 195,000 Syrian families will need
assistance to stay warm and dry over the winter.
 
Why Syrians are fleeing their homes: Three reasons
• Violence: Since the Syrian civil war began, 320,000 people have been killed,
including nearly 12,000 children. About 1.5 million people have been wounded
or permanently disabled, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The war has become more deadly since foreign powers joined the conflict.

• Collapsed infrastructure: Within Syria, healthcare, education systems, and

other infrastructure have been destroyed; the economy is shattered.

• Children’s safety: Syrian children — the nation’s hope for a better future —

have lost loved ones, suffered injuries, missed years of schooling, and
witnessed violence and brutality. Warring parties forcibly recruit children to
serve as fighters, human shields, and in support roles, according to the U.S.
State Department

The crisis in Syria effects more than 12 million people, more than those u had
been affected by hurricane Katrina, the Haiti earthquake and the indian ocean
tsunami combined.
 
What are the refugees’ greatest needs?

• Syrians fleeing conflict need all the basics to sustain their lives: food,
clothing, health assistance, shelter, and household and hygiene items.

• They need reliable supplies of clean water, as well as sanitation facilities.

• Children need a safe environment and a chance to play and go to school.

• Adults need employment options in case of long-term displacement.

• As winter comes, refugees need warm clothing, shoes, bedding, heaters,

and heating fuel.
 
 
The welcome pack for Syrian refugee girl!
 The first thing that we felt would
be necessary to make someone
feel welcome and at home would
be a simple dressing gown and
slippers, it can give a feel of
warmth and homeliness for
someone who feels so distant
from that.

A simple dressing gown

and slippers.
 The second thing we felt
would be necessary for a
refugee would be an
Arabic/English dictionary as
we know that not being able to
understand anyone in the
country your in can be quite
terrifying for them.

Arabic/English Dictionary
 We felt to make them feel
more welcome and to help
them make friends and get to
know people we would give
them a few leaflets for the
activities that happen around
the town and help them sign
up to things they’d be
interested in doing.

Leaflets.
 We will also provided
them with pyjama’s, as
it is a simple need for
the refugees
associated.

Pyjama’s.
 We will provide toothpaste
and toothbrushes also, along
with other necessary things
the refugee would need as
part of their daily life e.g.
hairbrush, razors, soap,
towels etc.

Daily Hygiene Needs.

 We will provide toothpaste
and toothbrushes also,
along with other necessary
things the refugee would
need as part of their daily
life e.g. hairbrush, razors,
soap, towels etc.

Electric Blanket.
 We will give them
multiple vouchers to
allow them to buy
clothing that fits them
properly and that they
like, instead of buying
them clothing that they
don’t like.

Shopping Vouchers.
 Along with all there
other toiletries we will
give them a months
supply of toilet paper to
use until they are able
to afford there own.

Months supply of toilet

paper.
 A list of job
opportunities in the
area will be given to the
refugees to help them
make money and get to
know the area and the
people around.

Job opportunities in the

area.
 We will be providing
them with all the
bedroom furniture
needed, for example a
bed, lockers, drawers, a
wardrobe, lamps etc.

Bedroom furniture.
 We thought it was a good idea
to provide them with books so
that they can be entertained in
there spare time and this will
also help the people with
poorer English skills.

Books.
 A phone is very important in
our opinion as the refugees
will not know many people,
so by having important
number saved in their
phone they will feel safer
and can access people if
they ever have an
emergency.

Phone.
 A watch is a very
practical item which will
indeed keep them
aware of Irish time as it
differs to Syrian time.

A watch.
 Lastly we will provide them
with all the kitchen utensils
and items that would be
needed, including plates,
cups ,bowls, cutlery, knifes,
utensils, etc.

Kitchen Items.
 As a result of different
cultures and different
tastes, the refugees may not
eat a lot of what we would
regularly eat so we will be
providing them with a fridge
full of traditional foods that
they can enjoy, along with
names and addresses of
different supermarkets that
specialise in foreign foods.

Typical foods.
 We have included
traditional Syrian cd’s for
popular artists in Syria just
to help the teenager feel
more at home or to cheer
them up if they’re having
a tough day as we
understand how hard it
must be to enter a country
where you know no one.

Traditional Syrian Music.

An Invitation.

Along with all the other ways

of welcoming one of the
teenagers into our community,
we decided to give them an
invitation to the ball that will be
hosted by our Transition Year
students in the school, just
simply to help them get to know
the people they will be in school
with better and to help them
make more friends.
 Thank you for your time to read our
project and we hope you enjoy it as much
as we enjoyed creating it.

Created by Shreya Pol and Lucy Doyle!