When Karam (alias) and his family were displaced to Arsal in 2014, life was far from easy. Living in harsh conditions inside the camp, Karam’s mother shared her concerns: “My son doesn’t speak well… he doesn’t interact with anyone”.

Karam, was withdrawn and shy. He has mild speech and physical disabilities. He struggled with communication, lacked self-confidence, and faced bullying. This led him to become even more withdrawn and, at times, react with anger.

Then came the turning point. Karam joined the Basic Literacy and Numeracy (BLN) program, provided under the “Back to the Future 6” project, where the team offered personalized support to help him grow both psychosocially and academically. He was referred to speech and occupational therapy, and enrolled in psychosocial support sessions and activities focused on building self-esteem and enhancing learning.

Step by step, Karam began to smile more, speak more clearly and confidently, and participate more often in the classroom.

The changes are noticeable. His mother expresses her gratitude: “You saved his life and ours. I never thought he would learn, and now he learns like any other child.”