BackgroundChild Guardians is the leading NGO in Syria in the field of child protection. It was established in 2012 in response to the need to provide urgent and critical protection to Syrian children, being the most affected victims of the Syrian war.
ReachChild Guardians’ services include protecting children against military recruitment, abusive labour, and/or exploitation of any type; protection against early marriage; and empowering the communities to provide equal opportunities for boys and girls.
The organisation is headquartered in the Turkish city of Gaziantep and operates a number of branch offices in Syria, with some 115 employees, as well as a number of volunteers and trainees.
ImpactChild Guardians’ long commitment to child protection has helped them to build close relationships with the local community, and build strong ties with the institutions and organisational bodies in Syria, in particular through its capacity building programmes for institutions.
Child Guardians was established in 2012 to provide urgent and critical protection to Syrian children, the most affected victims of the Syrian war. The organisation advocates for children’s rights, provides them with urgently needed socio-psychosocial support, and empowers them to become a new generation of peacebuilders.
Syria suffered 14 years of devastating war, rights violations and brutal dictatorship by the Assad regime. In a conflict that became a battleground for numerous factions and foreign powers, more than 600,000 people were killed and 13 million displaced − over half of the Syrian population. A humanitarian crisis was created as cities, infrastructure, and the economy were destroyed.
In December 2024, the Assad regime was toppled. Syrians have started to envision a future free from war and oppression. But for now, millions of people are still experiencing starvation, international airstrikes continue, and the work of peacebuilders remains vitally important in the recovery and transformation of the country. Learn more about Rebuilding Syria.
Child Guardians provides a diverse range of direct support to children, young people, families and caregivers. This includes creating safe spaces, supporting education and providing training for caregivers, as well as offering specialised mental health services to children and caregivers affected by conflict and displacement.
The organisation also advocates for children’s rights at the policy level, and empowers local communities to understand children’s rights and implement essential protection measures themselves. It has supported hundreds of schools to integrate child safeguarding standards Finally, it monitors and documents grave rights violations and atrocities committed against children.
Through this work, Child Guardians helps protect children from exploitation – such as military recruitment, abusive labour and early marriage – and empowers communities to provide equal opportunities for boys and girls. Having a community-embedded approach has enabled it to have close, positive relationships with the people it supports, and has developed the organisation’s reputation at an international level.
Through this work, Child Guardians helps protect children from exploitation – such as military recruitment, abusive labour and early marriage – and empowers communities to provide equal opportunities for boys and girls. Having a community-embedded approach has enabled it to have close, positive relationships with the people it supports, and has developed the organisation’s reputation at an international level.
Peace Direct has partnered with Child Guardians since 2020. Some of the work we’ve supported includes the establishment of Youth Peacebuilding Committees in Idlib, through which Child Guardians helps increase youth representation and participation in peacebuilding. Young people who join the Committees receive training in peacebuilding, trauma response, and resilience, among other topics. They are then supported to plan and implement community initiatives to foster peace and address child protection issues.
During the 2023 severe earthquake crisis, these Committees organised voluntary community work to create an effective, positive, and rapid response during the first hours following the earthquake, mobilising donations to support families affected in nearby areas. Their proactive efforts showcased their resilience and determination to make a positive impact.
Khaled, who is 15 years old, said: “Our immediate response after the earthquake was a result of our training. We learned the value of planning and coordination before initiating any initiative. We aim to be quick, organised, and impactful in our actions.”
“We are Jawad and Iqbal, and we are very happy now at the kindergarten. We have many friends, and we love this place a lot. We want to come here every day.” – Jawad & Iqbaal, 9 years.
Jawad and Iqbal, both nine-year-old twins, tragically lost their father to shelling. They suffer from a congenital lung deformity, worsened by their father’s loss. Amidst constant displacement due to war, they found temporary refuge until the earthquake destroyed their home. Their fear and health conditions have prevented them from returning to school.
Our case management team met them after a call from the mum, where the assessment showed clear social and mental health challenges due to neglect and poor living conditions. A comprehensive intervention was delivered to meet their immediate and long-term needs, including solar energy tools to enable their mother to administer nebulisation sessions for the children at home and provide some lighting during night. In addition to new clothes, milk supply, and hygiene materials to improve their health, psychological support and integration activities enhanced the children’s well-being. The team facilitated relocation to a suitable house and referred the children to a local nursery, which soon promoted their positive interaction with peers.
