After 12 years of crisis in Syria, life is harder than ever for displaced families. The Syrian conflict has disappeared from media attention while millions of children have never known a different life.

THE THREE SISTERS FROM ALEPPO

Mariam, Bissan and Ghazal are three sisters born in Aleppo, the city infamous for its siege and atrocities against fleeing civilians. Six years ago they lost their 10-year-old brother in a bombing raid. Shortly afterwards, so did their mother. Mariam is the youngest, 8 years old and wants to be a paediatrician when she grows up. Bissan, 11, likes to sing. Ghazal is 13 years old, she is the shyest and likes to play football.

THE FLIGHT TO RAQQA

Mariam and Bissan were born during the Syrian war while Ghazal was only 1 year old when the conflict broke out.They fled Aleppo and took refuge in Raqqa where they now live with their father and adoptive mother Nada.

The war in Syria has taken a heavy toll on the mental health of children, who have faced bereavement and displacement. In Raqqa, Un Ponte Per has opened three Safe Spaces to provide protection and psychological wellbeing for children, girls and women.

RETURN TO SMILING

"They were shy and never wanted to spend time with other children," Nada tells us. "Two years ago their father and I took them to Un Ponte Per's Safe Space and in the last year we are seeing great progress. They interact more and have friends both here and at school."

Six years after the battle of Raqqa, the children are still growing up in the rubble. Sixty per cent of them do not go to school."It is difficult to raise a child here," Nada confides worriedly. "Even more difficult is raising a daughter."

"We love the activities that are done in the Safe Space. We can sing and even draw because they give us everything we need. And then here we can express our opinions."

"I am Lasu, Protection Specialist in Raqqa with Un Ponte Per. We work to ensure protection and rights for children exposed to violence, child labour, early marriage. We help them identify risks and provide them with the tools they need to report incidents of violence and abuse, which are especially prevalent among girls".

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Join our 'Free to Break' campaign. We need your help to break down the walls of stereotypes and oppression that discriminate against girls and women in north-east Syria.

Help us bring smiles to girls in our Safe Spaces, treating trauma, combating violence and preventing child labour and early marriage.