Every Syrian child under the age of eight knows only a world of conflict and chaos. With more children displaced now than at any time since World War II, the International Rescue Committee and Sesame Street are working together to bring hope and opportunity to a generation of children at risk, but not lost.

When conflict and crisis strike, children are hurt the most. Today, there are 65 million displaced people globally, half of whom are children. Research shows that the effects of toxic stress can be reduced, and even reversed, if children have access to high quality education. This sets them up for success, not only in school, but in life.

Education isn't a luxury—it's a vital lifeline. More than half of Syrian children in Lebanon don’t attend school. International Rescue Committee president & CEO sees the IRC's education programs in Lebanon first-hand. 

Maryanrun is a community health worker and refugee who is helping the International Rescue Committee save children's lives in Mogadishu, Somalia.

At least a half million Syrian refugee children live in Lebanon. Many have no choice but to work on the streets or in the fields to help their families survive. The International Rescue Committee gives them a safe place to play, learn, and just be kids. Meet a group of children as they spend a day in one of these safe spaces dressing up in superhero costumes and talking about their secret superpowers.

IRC Washington is now able to provide legal representation to unaccompanied children through the Children's Legal Services Program. With IRC Washington's wide array of programming, unaccompanied children are also able to receive additional support such as educational resources or mental health counseling.

See how the IRC is working inside Syria, in neighboring countries, and in Europe and the United States to help Syrian children and their families endure and recover from war and trauma. 

More than 224 million school-aged children are affected by crises globally. Find out more.

In March of 2021, approximately 19,000 unaccompanied children attempted to enter the United States through the border with Mexico. For a small percentage of these children, Florida communities are their new home, where they still face challenges. Many of these children have endured traumatic experiences, and many of them find themselves in a state of limbo as cases clog up a fragile and unprepared immigration system, exacerbating their isolation. 

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, neighbors are working together with the International Rescue Committee to build up and improve their communities. They're making and influencing decisions that affect their communities' futures—for example, deciding whether to build new schools or health centers, improve roads or construct water collection points.