The impacts of displacement on children are immeasurable, riddling an entire generation with psychological trauma, economic disadvantage, and significant gaps or even dead-ends in their education (just to name a few).

But, at El Menahil International School, an institution founded by Tzu Chi volunteers in Istanbul, Türkiye, child refugees from Syria have a safe space to learn, connect with one another, and express complicated feelings.

At the global refugee relief exhibition, Uprooted: Compassion After Displacement, dive into the minds of students at El Menahil like tenth grader Rayan Alhamo, whose illustration (to the right) depicts global solidarity and hope as a balm for war and destruction.

Accompanying many of the illustrations (on display at the Tzu Chi Center) are videos where the students themselves share the meaning behind their work along with a message for visitors of the exhibition.