• 22 Jan, 2026

Walid Al-Khaif, 53, and his wife Hanaa Shahin, 39, from Syria, now live in Paphos with their eight children under subsidiary protection

They fled Idlib, Syria, in 2017 after losing their home and close relatives due to airstrikes and explosions. Hanaa says

"Our home was destroyed in the bombing in Idlib. When I lost my father and brother, we decided we could no longer wait for the war to end. We had to leave and find a safe place for ourselves and our family"

Walid longs for the quiet life his family once enjoyed in their homeland

"We lived a decent life in Syria; we didn’t need help from anyone. We had our home and a car, and I owned a restaurant that provided us with a decent living. But we lost everything"

Building a new life as refugees in a foreign country can be extremely difficult, especially for a large family. Although Walid works intermittently, it is not enough to provide food for everyone, and the family relies on charity and community support to meet their basic needs

Despite these challenges, Walid and Hanaa choose to hold onto hope and are grateful for what they have: safety and education for their children

Walid says

"We feel safe in Cyprus. It’s important not to live every day in fear… I’m happy that my children go to school, receive an education, and can dream of a better future"

For an entire generation of Syrian children who have known only crisis and exile throughout their lives, education is a key tool for rebuilding a normal life and empowering them to envision a brighter future