Ahlam is from Afrin, Syria. She came to Lebanon with her family when she was young. They had a house in Syria, but they lost it during the war. Now, Ahlam lives with her family in a very small house in the Bekaa, Lebanon. She has two brothers and one sister, and they all live together in one small room with a kitchen and a bathroom. This living situation has been challenging for Ahlam.

“I wish we lived in a better house where everyone had their own room and could do whatever they wanted,” she said

“I don’t feel like I have any privacy or personal time. Even when I want to study, there’s no quiet place to concentrate because of the noise. Sometimes I just want to spend time alone feeling peaceful and relaxed but I can’t.”

The family’s financial situation is very difficult. They struggle to afford their basic needs like food, heating and clothes. Ahlam’s parents work hard to provide for their children, but it’s not enough.

“There are many things I’d like to do and learn, but because of the hard-financial situation, I cannot.  I’d love to learn drawing and English, but I can’t join a course or have a private teacher because of our circumstances. Sometimes I need things, but my parents cannot buy them for me. For example, I need a new pair of shoes because my old shoes are worn out. I feel sad about this, but I understand that my parents are working hard for us and struggling, and I thank God for everything anyway.” She added

Despite these challenges Ahlam has found support through the ‘Children at Risk’ program, which she has been attending for about two years. This program has helped her develop good values and morals, improve her personality, build stronger relationships, and grow in her thinking and attitude. She has also acquired knowledge of the Bible and became familiar with most of the characters like Joseph, Abraham, David, Job…

Ahlam shares her experience of joining the program, “I used to see my friends near my house going to the club, so l asked them about it. They told me that they learn about God there, listen to stories, do fun activities, and play sports. I got really excited and wanted to join and go with them. I’m very happy I got the chance to be part of the club and learn more about God.”

Like many other children, Jesus has profoundly changed Ahlam’s life for the better. “Many things have changed in my life. Spiritually, I got to know Jesus better and learned more about His love and how He treated others.

Socially, l used to be very shy. I didn’t have any friends, I didn’t share my thoughts or opinions, and I stayed home most of the time. But now, my personality has become stronger. I’m no longer shy, I feel more confident, and I can talk, play, and share with others without fear.

Mentally, I used to think very negatively. I was easily hurt by people’s words and would stay sad for a long time. But now I think more positively, especially after learning in a discussion that people look at the eyes, but God looks at the heart. People may judge us by how we look, and not everyone will like our appearance. If someone says something negative, I try not to let it upset me, because it’s not what matters. What really matters is how God sees us. God cares about our hearts, so we should take care of them and be careful with our words, thoughts, and actions.”

Ahlam has also learned valuable lessons about forgiveness and patience.

“I was also touched by an object lesson that taught me to forgive from the heart and not hold grudges. I always try to be soft like a sponge, not hard or cold like a stone. I learned not to treat others in a harsh or unkind way. Along with learning to forgive, I also learned the importance of patience and not giving up when things get hard. I once thought about leaving school because I was struggling to understand the lessons, especially English. But when I heard this advice, I tried harder, worked on myself, paid more attention in class, and now my grades have improved, and I’m getting closer to my goals.

Ahlam also enjoys the truck program, where she can learn new things, play with friends, and have fun with clowns.