A talent that knows no distance: Hibbat Allah excels in the hybrid accelerated education program

In a remote area far from the city center, where services are scarce and living conditions weigh heavily on families, a young girl named Hibbat Allah (12 years old) lives with her family of six. Despite her early passion for learning and intellectual curiosity, the distance to school and the inability to afford transportation posed major obstacles to her continued education, forcing her to drop out of school

Hibbat Allah describes that period, saying

“Schools are far from us, and my family cannot afford transportation. The nearest school is 3 kilometers away, and I had lost hope in learning.”

Her days passed watching her peers head to school while she remained at home, her dreams trapped within the walls, waiting for an opportunity that might never come

The turning point: access to an educational opportunity

The change came when the teams of the Dan Relief and Development Foundation began their field visits as part of the Foundation’s accelerated education program, aiming to identify out-of-school children in the Hajin area of rural Deir ez-Zor and bring them back to the educational path

During a team visit to Hibbat Allah’s area, her educational situation was assessed. The team noticed her clear passion and readiness to learn, so she was enrolled in the accelerated education program, with daily transportation provided from her home to the center—one of the biggest barriers to her continued education

Hibbat Allah says about that moment

“I was very happy when my name was registered in the project. I felt that a new door had opened for me after I had lost hope.”

The accelerated education model: turning challenge into opportunity

The accelerated education program implemented by the Foundation follows an intensive educational methodology lasting 8 months per academic year, targeting out-of-school children between the ages of 7 and 14. Students are integrated into formal education after passing periodic assessments every four months

In the current cycle in the Hajin area, 220 children are benefiting from the program, distributed across three educational levels, including 105 boys and 115 girls. The project is scheduled to conclude on June 30, 2026

From a dropout to a top student in the classroom

After joining the center, signs of transformation began to appear in Hibbat Allah. She was no longer the child standing behind the window at home; she became an active and diligent student in the classroom, attending lessons with focus, participating with confidence, and showing remarkable progress among her peers

She adds

“I have learned so much, and I am very grateful to the Dan Foundation for this project.”

An impact that goes beyond education

The program’s impact is not limited to bringing children back to school desks; it extends to rebuilding self-confidence and opening new future horizons. Today, Hibbat Allah continues her educational journey with determination and dreams of becoming a doctor who helps others and supports families in need

She concludes her message by saying

“I hope you continue this project, because there are many like us who have been denied the right to education due to distance and poverty. Every step you take brings joy to those who have lost hope.”

Hibbat Allah’s story reflects the essence of the accelerated education model

When determination meets opportunity, education can reshape the future and turn geographic and social obstacles into pathways to success