The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world in unimaginable ways, and that change particularly has seriously affected youth. From mental health to education, every aspect of the lives of youth has been impacted. This photo essay presented on the UNICEF website offers an in-depth look at some of those challenges that youth have faced as a result of the pandemic, as well as the strength and resilience of youth.
Some highlights of the photo essay:
One series of photos, “Unsettled in Istasyon,” takes a look at the lives of Syrian refugee youth in Mardin, Turkey. The photos show the daily lives of the people of the community, children playing, and adults taking care of chores.
It is estimated that there are some 88,000 Syrian refugees in Mardin. The refugees feeling Syria over the past decade have been able to adapt to the local environment, learn the local language, and work alongside the locals. But COVID-19 has proven to be a challenge.
When the pandemic first hit Mardin, schools closed immediately, causing children to feel isolated and anxious about the virus, as well as resurfacing past trauma from displacement.
Despite the challenges brought by this past year of the pandemic, the residents of Istasyon are “inspired by the spirit of hope, imagination and the dreams of their children.”
Read more and take a look at the photo essays: https://sites.unicef.org/generation-covid/