Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) Continues to Invest in Higher Education in Syria, January–June 2026
Education Is Rebuilding on Two Fronts
Years of disruption have left deep gaps in Syria’s education system. In 2026, UNICEF reports that 2.7 million children remain out of school and around 8,000 schools are non-functional. At the same time, young people entering the workforce face another challenge: gaining practical skills that match today’s employment opportunities.
Supporting education in Syria therefore means more than reopening classrooms. It also means helping young people build skills they can carry into working life.
674 Learners Enter Technical Training
During the first half of 2026, Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) supported the 1000 Programmers initiative, providing specialized technology training to 674 university students and graduates from Aleppo and Idlib.
Participants included 398 men and 276 women studying subjects ranging from full-stack web and mobile development to artificial intelligence, machine learning, networking and DevOps. The largest training track, focused on Laravel, ReactJS and NextJS, enrolled 292 participants and had reached 80% completion by the reporting period.
Skills Built for the Work Ahead
The program was designed to narrow the distance between university education, and the skills employers actually require.
Alongside technical instruction, participants worked on practical assignments and projects and received continued mentorship. The goal is to prepare graduates for opportunities in technology, including employment, internships, freelancing, and remote work, while strengthening problem-solving, teamwork, and professional confidence.
Four Schools Prepare for Their Next Chapter
The education initiative also included plans to rehabilitate four schools in Deir ez-Zor, with work focused on classrooms, electrical systems, water and sanitation facilities, furniture and other repairs needed to create safer learning spaces.
Physical construction had not yet begun during this reporting period. Government approvals and administrative requirements took longer than expected, but technical assessments, detailed work plans and the contractor selection process were completed so rehabilitation could begin once final approvals were secured.
This groundwork matters. Careful assessments help ensure that future repairs respond to the actual condition of each school rather than simply applying a standard solution.
Asmaa Turns Passion into Practical Skills
Asmaa had long wanted a career in technology but needed practical training to bridge the gap between university studies and professional software development.
Through this program, she joined a full-stack web development track and gained hands-on experience in both front-end and back-end development.
“It opened new horizons for my future.”
For Asmaa, the training turned an existing interest in programming into greater confidence and a clearer professional direction.
Learning Today, Building What Comes Next
Life for Relief and Development sincerely thanks the donors whose generosity continues to make education and skills development possible in Syria. Their support is helping young people prepare for changing careers while laying the groundwork for better learning environments for younger students.
Whether the next opportunity begins behind a computer or inside a restored classroom, continued support can help more students gain the skills, spaces, and opportunities they need to move forward.
