Salam Neighbor Page #3

want to go to school.

He says he doesn't

want to go

Until he's back at

home in syria.

We've been trying to

convince him to start

again,

, --

But the sad truth of it

is,

Only half of refugee

kids are getting an education.

What's up, raouf? Hey.

Are you gonna

go today?

-He doesn't know?

-He doesn't.

You don't know?

Well, you have--

what time is it?

-It's almost :
.

- minutes.

Why don't you want to go today?

Why don't you go?

They'll help you

find your class, raouf.

Right when you

walk in--

And we can even walk

with you down there,

if you want,

And then,

when you walk in,

The organization

will help show you

where you class is,

And you're

all registered,

So you won't have

anything to worry about.

No?

Raouf, like, why don't

you want to go to school?

Because you can

go to school

if you want to go.

Why don't you

eat right now,

then let's go?

I promise you,

you could be there

in ten minutes.

Why don't we go?

We'll prove you wrong.

I had no idea

that it was, like--

It's trauma-based.

Not, like, it's--

I mean--

I think there's so many

factors involved now.

But he's just scared.

And, like, he has

a reason to be...

Yeah, no ten-year-old

should ever have

to live with that.

Jesus.

You can have

some water, raouf.

Your life

is way more complicated

than we thought it was.

What's up, buddy?

Did you beat zach

at soccer?

You beat him up?

Because it's, like,

a combination

Of, like, a lot of

things that all come

together at one time.

It's, like, always

just right under

the surface,

Where you meet

so many people

Who are just, like,

always so friendly,

Always talking.

You don't even notice

anything's wrong at all.

And then you just

hear more about--

It's, like, one fact

about one person.

And that is something

that I could never

even imagine.

I don't really want

to talk about it.

within minutes,

the failure of the peace

conference in geneva

, miles away set

off a camp-wide demonstration.

The refugees were voicing

their disapproval

Of the ongoing war

in syria

And showing support

for those left behind.

And even though these protests

will eventually disperse,

The fighting just seven miles

away rages on.

this is

the tip of the iceberg

In za'atari.

It's where you can see and

feel the conflict, actually.

You hear the fighting.

: -- :,

...Which we are not--

at times,

our offices here have shook

Because of the closeness

of mortar fire.

You never get

a mental break from that.

You're always thinking

about who's still at home.

People are trying to

build a normal life,

But are finding it tough.

and what

is this again?

And why

is he lonely?

Is this a man who lost

all of his children?

yes.

Do you know anyone

who's like this,

Who lost all of

their children?

what do you do

at the women's center?

So, you need

to teach us

So we can--

so we can make--

the center

was clearly a home

away from home for her,

A place where

she had friends,

Community,

access to help.

She'd even begun

to work alongside

the jordanian staff,

Teaching art.

it's a very,

very important point--

Opportunity

out of crisis.

:

And that's something

we're underestimating.

I mean, we're

focusing so much

on these responses.

Yes, we have

to make sure that

people are warm,

Have proper shelter,

food, water, and so on

and so forth.

But we're forgetting

that it's really

an opportunity

To have time

to develop and think

And learn things.

In that sense,

We have obligation

to invest in

the human capital

Which this presents.

"arr."

No, you're

saying it, "argh."

I can't roll my rs.

"arr."

Sean cheats.

Yes.

Ha ha! What is that?

Have you ever seen

an outfit like this?

This is really difficult.

How do you say "difficult"?

--

sitting there

in the tent,

--

We realized

just how vulnerable raouf

and his friends really are.

--

Watching them play

these violent video games

on their phones--

--

At first it seemed

like nothing.

--

But for these

kids, it's their reality.

--

It's a reality

that's knocking on the door

right across the border.

--

Extremist groups

like al-nusra and isis,

--

They want to prey on

and exploit kids

--

Who don't have

access to education,

-- ,

Kids who are

in desperate situations.

--

When we think

about the people we've met

in this camp--

--

Raouf's family...

--

-Ahh!

-Okay.

:: --

Ismail...

--

All of our friends here--

--

They have chosen

peace over war,

--

To leave the fighting,

--

To leave the extremists

like isis,

--

Who they've even

renamed "daesh",

--

An insulting name derived from

the word "to trample".

--

-Hey!

-Hey!

--

to help the kids

here, ismail and his friends

--

Volunteer at one

of the many children's centers

in the camp.

--

Very good, very good.

--

just like

the women's centers,

--

These children's centers

are designed for trauma.

--

They provide safe spaces,

--

Running simple activities

that promote healing

--

And help prevent children

just like raouf

--

From slipping

too far behind

--

Or not returning

to school altogether.

--

These centers

don't replace schools,

--

But instead gets kids

ready to go back to them.

--

after four years

of the war,

--

The burden of refugees in

countries neighboring syria

--

Has reached

a breaking point,

--

Forcing them to often

effectively close their borders

--

To those fleeing

the violence.

--

. million people

remain displaced

--

From their homes

inside of syria.

--

This is the moment

where countries

all over the world

--

Need to open their borders

to syrians in need

--

And to support host countries,

like jordan,

--

Who have already

welcomed so many,

--

Yet do not have

the resources

--

To provide the dignity

refugees deserve--

--

The housing,

jobs and education,

--

That will not only help

stabilize the region,

--

But help save

an entire generation.

--

The world has been so wrapped

up in the violence,

--

We have forgotten

that this dignity

--

Is what creates

lasting peace.

--

Today is

the last day, but--

--

We hope that, too.

No matter what,

--

We will--we will

come and visit again.

--

No, not at all.

And I think--

--

Especially--I think

it was in conversation

with you--

--

We talked about

how there's--

--

There are good and bad

people in every society.

--

And that's the same

in the states

as it is here.

--

Before we came, we had

no idea what to expect.

--

We didn't know

if we'd be welcomed

--

Or if we'd booted

out of the camp.

--

But we've been,

from the very beginning,

--

Felt like people have,

you know, welcomed us in

--

And, over time, have become

very close friends with

all of you.

--

What we've really

come away with is,

you know,

--

We're not just syrians

and americans,

--

But we really are

neighbors.

--

And when neighbors

are in need,

--

Hopefully they

can come together

and help each other.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes