Youssef is using a Braille machine at school.

Unstoppable children

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Children are unstoppable

Meet children who have fled conflict, disaster, and displacement—yet refuse to be defined by it. Against unimaginable odds, they are now on the path to a brighter, better future.

Their stories show resilience, determination — and what’s possible when UNICEF, together with families, communities, and partners, collaborates to create lasting change.

Meet Youssef

Learning without limits

8-year-old Youssef started school just last year in Syria.
With support from his devoted parents, he is learning to read and write for the first time, using a braille typewriter. His unstoppable attitude is helping him chase his dream of becoming a teacher.

My first day at school was beautiful. I learned about education and how others study. And I discovered there’s something called a school break!

Youssef

Inclusive education, lasting impact

Youssef is one of 9,000 children in 2024, learning through our inclusive education programme.

He recently became Syria’s Champion in the Arabic Reading Challenge, cheered on by his parents, school and local community.

For many children in Syria, school is out of reach. Years of conflict have fractured the education system and one in three schools is still unusable. More than 2.4 million children remain out of school and children with disabilities are among the most likely to be excluded, with a lack of accessible facilities and support.

“Knowledge is what lights our way. When you stop learning, life becomes silent.” Said Youssef

Youssef’s story is one of resilience, love, and opportunity. It’s also the story of thousands of children across Syria whose futures are being rewritten through inclusive education. Because when children learn, childhoods are unstoppable.

Discover more about our commitment to making inclusive education a reality for every child.

Meet Margarida

No storm will stop her

No Cyclone will stop 15-year-old Margarida and her classmates, from learning in UNICEF’s climate-proof schools in Mozambique.

Cyclone Idai, in March 2019, was the worst natural disaster in over two decades, destroying 220,000 homes and 3,500 classrooms.

When the cyclone arrived, we lost everything. Everything was full of water

Margarida recalls.

Learning, no matter the storm 

Working with local partners, we have built climate proof schools, ready to withstand extreme weather conditions, allowing Margarida to get back into school and keep learning no matter the weather. These are providing safe, uninterrupted learning for over 55,000 children.

Mozambique’s long coastline and river basins make it highly vulnerable to cyclones — and climate change is making them worse.

More than 1,200 classrooms like Margarida’s now stand strong against cyclones, in Mozambique. Now in Grade 6, Margarida is determined to complete her education.

“We are happy to be able to go to school. Our school is beautiful. The winds can come and won’t destroy our roof. Me and my friends feel safe, and we don’t fear cyclones.” 
Find out how we’re taking action on climate change to help create a more sustainable future for children everywhere.

Meet Habiba

Learning right where she belongs

With a community classroom in her village, learning is now on 10-year-old Habiba’s doorstep.
Every morning, she grabs her school bag and heads out with a spring in her step – the classroom is just a short walk from her home in Bamiyan, Afghanistan.

When teacher Zia Gul calls out a question, Habiba’s eyes light up, arm in the air, hoping she’s picked.

But it wasn’t always this way

Not long ago, the nearest school was a 90-minute journey from Habiba’s home – a distance too far for a child to travel each day.

The long walk, safety concerns, and family responsibilities meant Habiba was missing out on lessons and the chance to learn with friends.

School is just a skip away

That’s where community education centres come in. Supported by UNICEF, these centres bring classrooms to the heart of villages like Habiba’s, clearing the path for children to learn where they live and play. Community education centres don’t just bring classrooms closer – they open doors for every child, especially girls.

For Habiba, this is what an unstoppable childhood looks like: learning, growing, and dreaming big, right in her own village.

In many rural Afghan villages, families want their daughters to learn from women they trust. Teachers like Zia Gul are game changers. With only one in three teachers in Afghanistan being female, and even fewer in remote areas, a teacher like Zia means girls like Habiba can learn, participate, and dream bigger.

With more than 15,000 community classes across Afghanistan, thousands of children are now learning side by side, building friendships and confidence every day.

You can play a vital part too, so that every school morning, children like Habiba and her classmates can rush along the village paths, excited to learn – showing us what it means to be unstoppable.

Discover more