Meet Sedrat, a student at a learning centre in Aleppo. Her education was interrupted by the Syrian conflict. Her family was displaced, and her education suffered. When they returned to Aleppo, she failed her ninth-grade exam and dropped out of school.

‘Life had become very boring,’ says Sedrat. ‘Sitting at home and using the mobile phone wasn’t good for me.’

Now, she studies at an Adolescent Girls’ Education in Crisis Initiative (AGENCI) centre. The centres offer non-formal classes in six centres in three governorates of Syria. They cover key subjects such as maths, reading and leadership, alongside topics like life skills, sexual and reproductive health and rights, menstrual health management, gender equality, gender-based violence and financial literacy.

The classes are aimed at out-of-school and at-risk youth, helping them overcome barriers, continue their education and succeed. They are funded by the Government of Canada and implemented by the Aga Khan Foundation in partnership with the World University Service of Canada.

AKDN has worked in Syria for decades to improve the quality of life for the Syrian people. We collaborate with international partners, national authorities, and local communities to deliver long-term, locally led solutions that strengthen Syrian communities and ensure opportunities for all.