Dear Friend,

I want to tell you about my recent trip to Jordan, where I visited with a few of the thousands of Syrian refugee families and children. While there, I heard stories of heartbreak and desperation — stories that you would never imagine coming from children.

When 7-year-old Rahma shared her story, she sounded aged beyond her years from her experiences.

"Should I start talking about my country or speak of the children of my beloved country, Syria? Should I start with the children who were killed and slaughtered? Or should I talk about the children who were tortured in the meanest of ways? Should I talk about our home that burned down or speak of my room, my toys, or my notebooks?"

Many children like Rahma have not only been forced to flee from their homes; they also lost loved ones and belongings along the way, robbing them of their childhoods. This is why Rahma ended her story with a simple plea: "Please give us our rights to be children."

You have the power to help answer that plea.

Another little girl, Haya, 10 (pictured above), said, "We fear you are forgetting us." A statement like that is impossible to ignore.

Haya is desperate to be heard. "I am talking on behalf of Syrian children, calling on you, the people of the other world," she said. "Have you ever thought of Syria? Have you ever thought of the children of Syria? My country Syria?"

Together, we can show Syrian refugee children like Rahma and Haya that they are not forgotten.

The girls shared with me how each longed to return to their families and piece back together their shattered lives. After losing their way of life back in Syria, the girls said the World Vision-funded school is the only positive experience they have now. So I handed each child a World Vision backpack filled with supplies they need for their studies.

I asked Haya what her favorite item was inside the backpack, and it was more than the pens and papers. "The blanket," she told me. "Winter is coming. It is my first and only one. It will keep me warm."

As a harsh winter approaches, you can help supply warm blankets to children like Haya, as well as food vouchers, basic hygiene kits, clean water, and more.

The crisis in Syria continues to escalate: and your support is needed more than ever.

God bless you,


Rich Stearns
President, World Vision U.S.

P.S. Please pray for those impacted by the conflict and devastation in Syria, and give a gift to help refugee children like Rahma and Haya today.