Istanbul, Nov. 8 (SANA) Bana Alabed, the Syrian young woman the world came to know as a child documenting the suffering of Aleppo’s children during the ousted regime’s siege, has begun a new chapter of her humanitarian mission by participating in the opening of the 10th TRT World Forum 2026 in Istanbul, affirming that education and helping children overcome the effects of war are the cornerstone for building Syria’s future.
Alabed took part in the forum’s opening at the Istanbul Congress Center, held under the theme “A World Without a Center: Who Leads When the Rules Run Out?”, where she presented Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with a butterfly-shaped figurine symbolizing children affected by wars and hunger, a humanitarian message summarizing part of the cause she has dedicated years of her life to defending.
In an exclusive statement to SANA on the sidelines of her participation, Alabed stressed that her presence at such forums is not only to speak about her personal experience but to represent millions of children deprived of education, play and safety.
“I am here representing Syria, my country, and its children. I am not speaking about my story alone, but about the story of millions of children,” she said.
Messages from besieged Aleppo
Alabed was born in Aleppo in 2009 and rose to prominence in 2016 when she began, with her mother Fatima, posting messages on Twitter—now X—conveying aspects of life under siege and the fear and suffering her family experienced.
Alabed recounted that period to SANA: “I am Bana, a child who lived through war and siege, and I did not want to remain silent.” She explained that she turned to social media to convey a picture of what children in Syria were experiencing and to affirm that they have stories and opinions that deserve to be told.
“We were deprived of education, of going out and playing like other children, and even of expressing our opinions and telling our stories,” she said, noting that those experiences did not push her to surrender to fear but strengthened her sense of responsibility toward children living the same conditions.
She said the scenes of fear and anxiety in children’s eyes during that period left a deep impact on her and entrenched her conviction in the need to continue working for a better future for them.
Alabed left Aleppo with her family for Türkiye in December 2016, continuing her advocacy for war-affected children and working to bring their voices to various international platforms.
From documenting experience to international recognition
Alabed’s documentation of her experience extended to books. She authored “Dear World,” recounting her childhood during the war with contributions from her mother, and the picture book “My Name Is Bana,” presenting her experience and aspirations for a safe life for children.
In a milestone of her humanitarian journey, Alabed received the 2025 International Children’s Peace Prize at a ceremony in the Swedish capital Stockholm from Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman, in recognition of her efforts to defend the rights of children affected by armed conflict and support their right to education.
Alabed told SANA that the cause she began defending at the age of seven remains her central focus, expressing pride in participating in international forums and meeting President Erdoğan again, and stressing her commitment to continuing to defend children’s rights and freedoms wherever they are.
Education at the top of children’s needs
Alabed hopes her experience will encourage Syrian children to continue their education and believe in their ability to participate in building their country after liberation.
“I hope Syrian children see me as an example that encourages them to say: We too can change Syria, complete our education and be the future of this country,” she said.
She believes that Syria’s liberation did not end the challenges children face, foremost among them the difficulty of continuing education, noting that some are still forced to work to help their families instead of going to school.
“There are children working to help their families instead of going to school, and this saddens me greatly,” she said, noting that the effects of fear remain present in children’s minds and that they need support and assistance despite gradual improvements.
In support of education, the KidsRights foundation is offering an initiative in Alabed’s name aimed at providing 90 school seats across ten classrooms in eastern Aleppo, serving 300 children and helping provide basic learning equipment.
A message beyond Syria
Alabed does not limit her message to Syrian children, noting the suffering of children in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan and stressing the need to continue defending their rights and giving them space to express their opinions and tell their stories.
She said the conflicts the world is witnessing confirm the need to listen to children and involve them in issues affecting their lives and future, as they possess experiences and opinions that cannot be ignored.
Alabed concluded with a message summarizing what she seeks to convey through her participation: “We children must have our voices heard, and we must have the ability to express our opinions and decisions and tell our stories, because we are the future, we are the change, and we are the ones who will change the world.”
Kh.A / Mzn
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