The following images and text were created and volunteered by Syrian refugee girls aged 14-16 during a photography course that I’m facilitating at a community center. These are some of the first photos that participants made and then chose to write about—I asked them to pick one, to describe its visual details and it’s importance for them.
This photo reminds me of our house's garden (in Syria). There is something in the photo that is driving me to ask questions. There are green trees in the photo. It's also about the house that is located behind these trees. - Tamador
If I had a look at this picture, I would be so curious to know what the children are thinking or planning to do together as a group. Seeing the children in the middle of nature gives you a great image. Also, if old people look at this photo they will remember their childhood days from past. - Bayan
This view is from the window in my room. Look at this view, how much it shows that someone worked hard and became exhausted in order to give us this wonderful view, and also to get this color which may attract any human. The sun that appears on the left side is reflecting the shadow on the right side. The lines meet in a point and this point ends with the building. - Nehla
This photo is so important for me because I like roses and I feel that the roses are giving me hope, and I feel there is a nice future full of dreams. This view sends a message to the people who look at it, and says, there is hope, a shiny future full of dreams, aims, ambition, and excitement. - Nada
There is a huge wonderful landscape. There is a lone tree out side the fence. There is fantastic green color and a lot of high mountains, a repetition of lines. - Zena
I am one of my country's children, one of the hundreds, which are lost in a strange country, and we are walking on a way, which is not our way. We are walking in this way and our tears are always in our eyes. When I look at the children and students, they are coming back from school, I remember the days in my town, in my home. These days started when I was a child. I remember my life in my school when I am coming back from the school, with my bag on my shoulder, and my hand is holding together with my friends' hands. Absolutely I will cry tears of happiness when I am coming back to my land, to my school, to my house, because I missed my teacher, my friends, boys and girls. I miss my class and my school desk. I'm sure that in the end, one day will come when God will come to give us hope and open the way back to Syria, to my town, to my home. My only hope and faith is in God. - Zena