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Art allows a young Syrian woman to dream of a better future

This year, I went to Turkey to help World Vision International share its work with Syrian refugees at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul. To understand the situation on the ground more deeply, I met with some of the refugees World Vision is helping in Ṣanliurfa, 50 km north of the Syrian border. That's where I met Lamia, who was only 15 when her family fled the war in Syria. Lamia takes art classes at the Urfa Community Centre, which World Vision supports. Art offers a powerful way for children, youth and adults to express and heal some of the trauma they've experienced in Syria.

'Music is my life,' shares a young Syrian refugee in Turkey

As I toured the World Vision-supported Urfa Community Centre in Ṣanliurfa, Turkey, I lingered in front of a photograph displayed on the wall of the art room. A hand, fingers outstretched, seemed to be trying to touch heaven, while birds circled high in the distance. Knowing that the Centre served Syrian refugees, I imagined her photograph meant, "I want to escape earth, its confusion and death, to fly with the birds in the peaceful heavens." But what did it mean to the photographer who took it? I asked if it would be possible to meet him or her.

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