This is the fourth blog post in a series of stories brought by photographer Khalil. Over a decade ago, Khalil participated in a visiting artists’ program led by PPP Associate Artist Gary Stewart in partnership with the British Council. Since then, Khalil has shared powerful testimonies about his life as a Palestinian refugee in Syria.
On 8 December 2024, Ba’athist Syria, under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad, collapsed during a major offensive by opposition forces. Khalil took to the streets to celebrate, filled with hope for freedom. In this post, Khalil shares his friend’s account of women’s rights in Syria following Assad’s fall.
Syria, 27 January 2025
By Khalil
Abdul Rahman was just six years old when his mother died of cancer, and not long after, his father passed away as well. Despite these devastating losses, Abdul Rahman excelled in his studies, determined to build a future for himself. But the war had other plans. His area was bombed, forcing his family to flee.
The losses mounted—two of his brothers were killed, and his third brother, barely seventeen, was arrested and sent to Sednaya prison, known as the “human slaughterhouse.” Because of these devastating losses, Abdul Rahman found himself forced to give up his dreams and his education to support his younger sister, whom he considered his second mother. Though she was only five years older than him, she had raised him and was now the only family he had left.
With no other options, Abdul Rahman began working with a regime-affiliated company that extracted iron from buildings destroyed by bombing. One tragic day, while working on a site, a three-story building collapsed on him. Abdul Rahman died in the accident, his features disfigured.
The sparkle was gone, and the life of that seventeen-year-old boy was over before it even began.
His story is just one among countless others in Syria, where the economic crisis and war have forced children into labour under unimaginable circumstances.
(Photo: A child is working with dangerous machinery without any protection.)
The Root Causes of Child Labor in Syria
The collapse of Syria’s infrastructure and economy due to war has led to widespread poverty and unemployment. 90% of the families now live below the poverty line, relying on their children as an additional source of income.
Displacement—both internal and external—has compounded the issue. Families who have lost their homes and livelihoods are forced to send their children to work in harsh and unsafe conditions simply to survive.
For these children, education is often an unattainable dream. The war has destroyed schools, displaced teachers, and created a severe shortage of educational resources. While Syrian laws mandate compulsory education through the primary level, these laws are largely unenforced in the chaos of war.
(Photo: On the picture on the left, the child works collecting scrap from the garbage and had an injury to his foot.)
Efforts to Address the Issue
Humanitarian organizations, such as UNICEF, have worked tirelessly to combat child labour by distributing aid, improving access to education, and emphasizing the importance of protecting children’s rights. The Syrian Ministry of Education has also launched campaigns to return children to school and raise awareness about the importance of education.
However, these efforts alone are not enough. Addressing child labour in Syria requires coordinated action from the government, humanitarian organizations, and the international community. There must be sustained efforts to provide education, protect children from exploitation, and invest in their futures.
Abdul Rahman’s tragic story reminds us of the urgency of this mission. Every child lost to labour or conflict represents a future that was stolen—a future that, if nurtured, could help rebuild a war-torn nation. Investing in children is investing in the future of Syria.
(This is a picture of Abdul Rahman)
Disclaimer: People’s Palace Projects (PPP) has not fact-checked the content of this blog. The views expressed here are solely those of the artist who has worked with us in the past and maintained regular contact over the last 12 years of the war. Only now PPP feel it is safe to share their personal account publicly.
PPP welcomes photos and stories from other artists who have been involved in or impacted by the conflict. We value diverse perspectives and invite contributions to help document and reflect on this critical moment in history.