Spring Newsletter
15th April 2025
Providing Support to Vulnerable Communities During Ramadan and Eid 2025
This year’s Spring Newsletter highlights the incredible impact your support made during Ramadan.
From providing safe, continuous education to displaced children in Gaza and Lebanon to delivering Eid gifts to children in Yemen and Pakistan, your generosity provided stability, joy, and hope when it was needed most.
You helped protect education in some of the world’s most challenging environments through mobile classrooms, psychosocial support, and community-led projects.
Distribution of Ramadan Hampers in Yemen
Thanks to your support, 629 vulnerable children in Aden, Yemen, experienced the joy of Ramadan through our hamper distribution project.
Each hamper included a prayer mat, Ramadan calendar, torchlight, reusable water bottle, stationery, and activity books, supporting both spiritual and educational growth. Children also received dates, raisins, and nuts to enjoy with their families at Iftar.
This initiative reached some of the most marginalised children in the community, with nearly one-third of recipients being children with disabilities and over two-thirds being orphans.
Mou’s Story
Twelve-year-old Mou from Aden lost her mother when she was young and has been raised by her older sister since her father remarried and moved to another city. Living in a rented home and struggling to get by each month, the family face poverty and hardship. Despite this, Mou attends school and dreams of becoming a doctor in the future.
Having been identified by her teacher to receive a Ramadan hamper, Mou was reassured that “there are always those who care about us.”
Upon receiving the hamper, Mou shared, “it taught me the value of sharing and giving and encouraged me to help others whenever I have the opportunity.”
Mr Gamel, Mou’s teacher, said that the Ramadan hampers have made a significant difference in the lives of children and caregivers. A hamper wasn’t just a material gift; “it was an expression of the spirit of solidarity and sharing.”
He said receiving the hampers had eased the burdens of families during the holy month, especially for low-income households. The hampers “provided a message of hope and moral support, making Ramadan more joyful and hopeful for the children and their families.”
Eid Gifts for Marginalised Children in Pakistan and Yemen
With your support, 580 vulnerable children in Pakistan and Yemen received Eid gifts, bringing joy to those who might otherwise have missed the celebrations.
In Pakistan’s Azad Kashmir region, 280 orphans in Hattian Bala and Bagh were gifted, while in Yemen’s Aden governorate, 300 orphans and children with disabilities received presents that helped them feel included and valued during the festive season.
An Update from Gaza
In our last newsletter, we highlighted the mental health and psychosocial support (PSS) we have been providing in Gaza.
Between June and December 2024, over 5,000 displaced people in Gaza—including more than 4,000 children—benefited from READ Foundation’s mental health and psychosocial support (PSS) activities. These included psychological support sessions, play therapy, and the distribution of PSS kits.
With the recent escalation of violence, we are working closely with partners to adapt our response. Once conditions allow, our current PSS project will expand to reach over 10,000 more individuals, including caregivers and teachers.
We’ve also set up 12 Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) to support nearly 1,000 children with continued education. These spaces provide early learning in the mornings, core subject support in the afternoons, and tailored sessions for Tawjihi (GCSE-equivalent) students. Recreational activities and PSS support for caregivers are also part of the initiative, ready to resume when safe.
Fatima’s Story
Fatima, a Palestinian woman in Gaza, lives with her family of nine in Al-Bureij, Middle Area. The conditions there are dire: a dilapidated shelter offering little protection from the harsh sun in the summer or the cold and rains of winter.
Despite these hardships, Fatima has been actively involved in community organisations and currently represents 50 displaced families on the site.
The war has disrupted her life entirely.
She shared: “No matter how strong I am, this war has turned my life upside down. We once lived in dignity and stability, but displacement has made life a constant struggle, moving from place to place in search of safety.”
The relentless instability left her feeling exhausted and irritable. She struggled to meet her children’s basic needs while also supporting other families who relied on her.
Recognising this, Fatima received psychosocial support sessions provided by READ Foundation together with the other women.
These sessions covered trauma, stress management, behavioural challenges, parenting issues, and coping strategies.
Fatima observed a significant positive shift in the mental states and behaviours of both women and children. Encouraged by this transformation, she expressed a strong need for continued support.
“The war isn’t over, and psychosocial support is essential.”
Supporting Education on the Türkiye–Syria Border
Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, the education system near the Turkiye–Syria border remains in crisis. Many schools are damaged or lacking essentials like clean water, safe classrooms, and qualified teachers, making Education in Emergencies more critical than ever.
In Sharan and Jinderes, our two Safe Learning Spaces continue to provide informal education and child protection support. Running until October 2025, this initiative will benefit over 2,000 children with safe, inclusive access to learning and wellbeing services.
In Azaz, our Temporary Learning Centre is offering 150 refugee children non-formal education and psychosocial support. The centre uses a structured, accredited curriculum to help students transition into formal schooling while supporting their emotional wellbeing through child protection activities.
As the situation evolves, especially with the prospect of returnees reintegrating into Syria’s education system, READ Foundation remains committed to adapting our efforts to meet the region’s changing needs.
Rama’s story
After being displaced with her family, Rama dealt with not only the economic but also the psychological impact of the conflict in Syria. At 14 years old, her adolescence has been rocked by the turmoil, making her anxious about her self-purpose and direction in life.
The Temporary Learning Centre in Azaz offered Rama a glint of hope. Through the psychosocial support delivered by well-trained staff, Rama rediscovered herself and her passion for life.
Aspiring artist Rama shares that the psychosocial support programme taught her to face problems without fear and be strong in any circumstances.
“When I’m at the centre, I feel like I’m at home.”
Building Resilience Through Education in Yemen
Yemen continues to face multiple crises—ongoing conflict, school destruction, and severe climate shocks like flooding and droughts. Many schools have been further damaged by the floods of 2023 and 2024, leaving thousands of children without safe places to learn.
To respond, READ Foundation is implementing a disaster risk education project in Al Dhalea, southern Yemen. This initiative supports 4,777 people—including children, teachers, and community members—by training them in disaster preparedness and making schools safer through rehabilitation.
Alongside this, our multisector project is removing barriers to education and employment. To boost attendance, nearly 1,300 children benefit from school rehabilitation, teacher training, and daily breakfast meals. The project also provides food support to families and vocational training for 100 women and youth, strengthening household income and future opportunities.
Emergency Relief and Recovery in Lebanon
As Lebanon’s crisis deepened in 2024, thousands of children faced a sixth year without stable access to education, with schools once again turned into shelters.
In response, READ Foundation launched emergency relief efforts to support nearly 4,000 displaced individuals sheltering in schools across South Lebanon. Families received food parcels, warm clothing, and essential winter supplies to help them stay safe through the cold.
Our School in a Bus project was adapted to provide psychosocial support, while refugee women helped distribute hot meals, bringing both nourishment and dignity to families in need. Over 1,200 children participated in social and emotional learning activities, including storytelling, role-play, and group discussions.
As part of our post-ceasefire recovery, we’re now providing psychosocial support through music, sports, and play for children aged 6–14. Safe community spaces have been set up to host these sessions, reaching over 950 displaced children in South Lebanon.
Adam’s Story
Before the war, Adam Fakih lived a happy, secure life in South Lebanon—his father ran a successful sweets business, and Adam had his own room, toys, and peace of mind. But when conflict broke out, everything changed. After a long 30-hour journey, Adam and his family ended up in an emergency shelter, sharing a room with strangers.
That’s when he joined our School in a Bus project. “I like that now I can play with blocks and play dough, just like when I was at home,” he shared with a smile.
In the safe, nurturing space of the mobile classroom, Adam is slowly rediscovering joy, rebuilding friendships, and regaining a sense of normalcy—one day at a time.
