Nazarene schools in Lebanon and Jordan help Syrian children living as refugees catch up to their grade level, build community, and grow in confidence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers have moved classes online to continue providing education and care to students. Here, Rima, a seventh grader, shares her experiences.

We usually hear that someone is home sick, but did you ever hear of school sick? I am school sick!

Since we left Syria, the Nazarene school became my home, my security, my sense of belonging. Some teachers became my mentors, my youth leaders at church, and even my friends, I share my heart with them when I am feeling down.

So being away from my school was so frustrating to me. When we started the online courses, it was kind of breeze for me. It was nice to be in contact with all the friends and teachers again. At first, it was challenging and very hard to concentrate because it was my first experience studying online and through the phone.

However, my teacher did their best to make it easy on us. They sent us creative videos—sometimes videos of them talking to us. Each teacher had his or her own style, so I had to cope with every teacher and get used to his style with the online classes.

I dream that I will wake up one day and find that COVID-19 crisis is over and that I am sitting at my desk in my class!”

I do confess that as a seventh grader I felt that maybe I will also be in the same grade next year. I never thought I would move on. Now, with the online classes I have hope to pass on to grade eight. 

I am thankful. Without those classes I will be definitely bored at home with nothing to do. At least now I am occupied with something useful and I get to do a lot of group work through WhatsApp or different social media sites with my classmates.

In conclusion, I am thankful for the online course, but still I miss everything about the school. Once this crisis is over I really want to go out and play basketball with my friends. I dream that I will wake up one day and find that COVID-19 crisis is over and that I am sitting at my desk in my class!

            -  Rima*

*Names are changed for protection.