In crisis contexts, schools are often among the first to bear visible damage. Some are reduced to rubble, while others must quickly be repurposed into makeshift shelters for families seeking refuge — their hallways and classrooms filled with stories of both despair and resilience.

Amid this turmoil, the backpack becomes a striking symbol of hope. For children uprooted by violence or disaster, it is more than just a bag carrying books and supplies — it represents the thread connecting them to the possibility of a better future. Whether worn or new, these backpacks evoke routines once taken for granted: morning classes, friendships formed in the playground, and the sense of safety once provided by a school’s four walls. Even when those walls have crumbled or been transformed into temporary havens, young learners cling to their backpacks as a steadfast commitment to continue their education.

Damaged or destroyed buildings underscore the fragility of educational systems during emergencies. Beyond the physical structures, these devastated spaces reflect the abrupt interruption of learning, growth, and security — breaks that can leave lifelong marks.

In Lebanon, where war left residential buildings abandoned and entire neighbourhoods scarred, schools quickly turned into shelters: desks became dining tables, and blankets replaced chalkboards. In Turkey, the 2023 earthquake reduced classrooms and residential towers to piles of debris. And in Ukraine, the ongoing conflict forced countless students to leave both homes and schools, their education continuing in improvised settings — from metro stations to temporary shelters.

Yet even in these darkest moments, education remains a cornerstone of hope and recovery. It offers children and communities a sense of stability — a place to heal and rebuild both personally and collectively. Even when sporadic or held under improvised conditions, classes restore a sense of normalcy and continuity. They provide not only academic learning but also psychosocial support, a safe space to grow and to dream again.

No matter the disaster’s location or scale, the children’s determination to learn reveals the indisputable power of education as a tool for survival, adaptation, and the rebuilding of entire communities.