Mama Samara

 In the middle of uncertainty, Samara's heart, a caregiver for 3 children at SOS Children’s Villages Lebanon, waves with gratitude for her recent relocation to Kfarhay Children’s Village. With advance notice from the Village leader about the approaching move, she was able to prepare her children for the transition. Packing with purpose, she filled a large suitcase with essential clothing, snacks, and comforting items like coloring pens and dolls for the girls. As they settled into this safer place, Samara felt a mix of relief and worry, determined to create a sense of normalcy for her two daughters, ages ten and eleven, and her thirteen-year-old son.

This relocation took place after the serious escalation in the security situation in Lebanon two months ago, which was both uncertain and unclear. The safety of the children, given these threats, prompted the Crisis Management Team to make the decision to relocate children and staff from the Ksarnaba Village in the Bekaa Valley to Kfarhay Village, which is considered safe and far from the conflict zone. Following the relocation, the area where our Ksarnaba Village is located was targeted by three airstrikes. In the past few weeks, as the conflict in Lebanon has severely escalated, Ksarnaba has been hit every couple of days."

“No mama, they will not hit us– we are safe here”

Yet, despite the new surroundings, the echoes of war remained in Samara’s mind. When her youngest daughter, Lea, expressed her fears about the distant sounds of warplanes, Samara reassured her “No, mama, they will not hit us, we are safe here.” But inside, Samara faced her own worries. Her thoughts often drifted to her siblings still living in Ksarnaba, where safety felt like a distant dream. Every morning, she reached out to them, hoping for their well-being and longing for the day they could all reunite.

To keep her children engaged and distracted, Samara filled their days with activities, such as coloring, watching cartoons, and having small walks in the fresh air. Yet, amidst these moments of joy, she couldn’t help but miss their old life. “I miss my car,” she admits. Recalling how it had once taken them on adventures and shopping trips. “The warm winds of Bekaa and the comfort of home feel like fading memories, but I hold into hope of coming back there soon.”

“(…) it feels different now. I feel different”

With each shared laugh and caring moment with the other caregivers, Samara was determined to create new memories in their new home is SOS Children’s Village Kfarhay. ‘Yesterday I told the children let’s cook together. They were ready to help and we prepared a nice dish together.’ She states.

Samara continues, describing herself, and how she changed. ‘I like to joke; it is my character. But it feels different now, I do feel different. My smiles hide worry, maybe also some guilt for being safe.” Nevertheless, Samara and her three SOS Children are grateful for the support they are getting in SOS Children’s Village Kfarhay. “We are lucky to be living under a safe roof and warm beds. Anything we need, even spices for the kitchen were delivered to me right away in order to prepare lunch like usual.” She ends saying: “I want this war to end and our beautiful country to be saved.”

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