Brave and tenacious in the rubble
Young Syrians, often born and raised in a context of war, show a great capacity for adaptation and an extraordinary desire to get involved. Several of them excel in their studies, despite the precarious conditions in which they find themselves living. And others try to find a way to learn a work system to earn a living. But also in the ability to find creative solutions to complex problems, from managing daily life to surviving in extremely difficult conditions.
Many of these boys and girls see study as a way to build a better future, and, despite the economic difficulties, they invest every resource to continue their education. This attitude, a sign of a strong will, is accompanied by a desire to help in the healing of their country.
The difficulties caused by the war and the economic crisis
However, the path for these young people is littered with obstacles. The war, which began in 2011, and then the Covid-19 pandemic, the earthquake of February 2023, left behind a long trail of destruction: collapsed houses, broken families, non-existent infrastructure and an economic crisis that severely affects every aspect of their lives. Economic difficulties are one of the most serious elements for young Syrians, who often have to choose between working to contribute to family sustenance or continuing to study. High costs, a lack of job opportunities and an unstable political context make it almost impossible to plan for a peaceful future.
The Sons of Don Bosco and the spirituality of hope
An aspect that deeply characterises many young Syrians is their belonging to the Salesian family of Don Bosco. Being children of Don Bosco does not only mean belonging to an educational context, but living life with a spirit of hope and trust in the future. In the Salesian centres in Syria, many of these young people find a safe haven, a place where they can continue to cultivate their dreams and their faith.
Don Bosco's spirituality helps them to cultivate a vision of hope even in the midst of pain. It is not a naive or blind hope, but an inner strength that allows them to see beyond current difficulties, to believe that a better tomorrow is possible, and that today's suffering can be transformed into personal and community growth. Salesian spirituality instills in them the courage to live each day with fullness, trying to improve the present, even when the future seems uncertain.
Giving quality to today's experience despite tomorrow's uncertainty
Despite the ambiguity of the future and the uncertainty that surrounds them, young Syrians try to give quality to today's experience. They know that while they have no control over what happens tomorrow, they can positively influence the present. Through small daily actions – mutual help, study, commitment to work and community – they seek to build a better today for themselves and for others.
The sense of community, the importance of solidarity and the desire to contribute to the common good are traits that emerge strongly in these young people. Many of them are involved in volunteer activities, offer their time to help those in greater difficulty and try to create spaces of normality in the midst of chaos. Uncertainty for the future does not prevent them from living the present with intensity, on the contrary, it pushes them to give their best today, knowing that every gesture, every choice, can make a difference.
Look at Don Bosco
The new situation in Gaza in the Holy Land, and the devastating consequences in Lebanon and Syria in particular, certainly discourage young people's vision of a future.
The Salesians in Syria, in all this, continue to look to Don Bosco, who also grew and matured in very difficult situations, with social and political changes and economic transformations that increased poverty and hardship. Don Bosco tackled everything for the good of his boys, and he became a light for many young people who expect something from Christ. And it is the same that his heirs in Syria propose to do today, at the service of young Syrians.
