This week I have gone with YUVA staff to visit Syrian families in their homes and talk with them about their education and protection experiences and needs. As has so often been the case here, I have been amazed by the warmth with which people have welcomed us, and their openness and willingness to share their experiences and stories over delicious Syrian coffee or sugary tea. Including myself, there was one man and one woman that were part of the household visit team. My male colleague would always stand respectfully out of site of the door whenever it was opened, just incase the women inside wanted to cover before he entered. In most of the homes we visited, there was more than one family living there. We would usually be shown into a sitting room and invited to sit on rugs or cushions. The male members of the household would join us, and usually answered most of the questions. Women would join as well, and would chime in occasionally. There were often children around too, sometimes sitting quietly listening to the conversation, sometimes moving in and out of the room. I noticed that a few of the children had bags under their eyes, which makes me worry they are not sleeping or feeling well.
During these visits, people often wanted to talk not only about education, but other issues they are experiencing in their lives as well. For example, one man was concerned that the registration process for Syrians outside of camps was there so authorities could more easily find Syrians who are committing crimes. Another man complained about the injustices in distribution of humanitarian aid in the area. He said that there are people living in luxury apartments receiving food vouchers. Sometimes, things would get political. Not for the first time, I was asked why America does not step-in to end the violence in Syria. If Obama is a good person, the man asked, why doesn’t he stop Assad? We listened to all they had to say.
To select which houses we would visit, we worked from a YUVA list of Syrians who have attended the community center, received a food voucher from Support to Life, or have been visited by YUVA before. I then randomly selected neighborhoods from the list, and households within those neighborhoods to visit. I did this to help us have a more representative sample of Syrians living in Kirikhan. However, because all of the people we are talking to have interacted with an NGO in some way, we already know we are talking to a population of Syrians that does not necessarily represent the experiences of all Syrians in Kirikhan. But because it can be difficult to find Syrians in the community, and because it can help people feel more comfortable speaking openly if they are familiar with you and the work that you do, the staff and I decided to visit people who are likely to know YUVA. I hope this approach helped those we visited feel more comfortable talking with us openly. I feel very lucky and grateful to have been able to visit people’s homes and share in their stories.
During these visits, people often wanted to talk not only about education, but other issues they are experiencing in their lives as well. For example, one man was concerned that the registration process for Syrians outside of camps was there so authorities could more easily find Syrians who are committing crimes. Another man complained about the injustices in distribution of humanitarian aid in the area. He said that there are people living in luxury apartments receiving food vouchers. Sometimes, things would get political. Not for the first time, I was asked why America does not step-in to end the violence in Syria. If Obama is a good person, the man asked, why doesn’t he stop Assad? We listened to all they had to say.
To select which houses we would visit, we worked from a YUVA list of Syrians who have attended the community center, received a food voucher from Support to Life, or have been visited by YUVA before. I then randomly selected neighborhoods from the list, and households within those neighborhoods to visit. I did this to help us have a more representative sample of Syrians living in Kirikhan. However, because all of the people we are talking to have interacted with an NGO in some way, we already know we are talking to a population of Syrians that does not necessarily represent the experiences of all Syrians in Kirikhan. But because it can be difficult to find Syrians in the community, and because it can help people feel more comfortable speaking openly if they are familiar with you and the work that you do, the staff and I decided to visit people who are likely to know YUVA. I hope this approach helped those we visited feel more comfortable talking with us openly. I feel very lucky and grateful to have been able to visit people’s homes and share in their stories.