There are no kangaroos in Syria or Jordan, but nine-year-old twin brothers Anas and Ayman couldn’t stop thinking about the Australian animals and people affected by the ongoing bushfires.
Syrian refugees living in Jordan, Anas and Ayman first heard about the out-of-control bushfires that have ravaged Australia in their CARE art therapy classes – sessions which help displaced children deal with the trauma of losing their homes.
Seeing the images of destruction in Australia reminded them of what is going on in their homeland, and they immediately felt a connection with the Australian people and wildlife who are suffering. They knew they had to do something to help.
“Can we do something about this?” Ayman asked his CARE psychological counsellor. “I’m so sad to see this.”
Ayman and Anas decided to draw pictures to cheer up the families and children affected by the devastation. Together with other refugee children, they created these drawings and paintings, and CARE Australia sent them to primary schools and community organisations in bushfire-affected areas of Australia.
“Many generous Australians have donated to our Syria relief efforts over the years,” said CARE Australia’s Humanitarian and Emergency Response Manager Rachel Routley, “So it’s great to be able to send that message of support back the other way too. Hopefully during this difficult time it brings some comfort to know that people all over the world are thinking of them.”
Ayman and Anas know what it is like to be without a home, and they hope that the crisis in Australia comes to an end very soon, so that those who have lost their houses can rebuild and get their lives back on track again.
“It is unbelievable how fires could go for weeks,” Anas said. “I hope it rains a lot.”
In the meantime, their drawings have arrived in schools across affected regions of Australia, and their story has even been featured on the ABC.
Anas, Ayman, and all the children who sent love to Australia are a part of CARE’s psychosocial counselling programs in Jordan. You can support programs like this by donating to our Syria crisis appeal.
