Best Friends Hope to Reunite in Syria One Day

Best Friends Hope to Reunite in Syria One Day
"I'd like to go and visit Mustafa in Syria One Day". Photo: ICMC/ R. Baydoun

“Meen Heluweh?” (who’s the sweetest?) a young mother says to her toddler, leaning over to braid her tufty hair. There is a strong sense of community where 10-year-old best friends, Mustafa* and Mohammad*, live as neighbors in Mafraq, Jordan. The courtyard where they are playing radiates high energy.

In the room beside the door, a cartoon is in full flow, and voices can be heard singing along to children’s songs. Upon entering, Mustafa is immediately pounced upon by his younger brother, Zaid*, 4, who sings along with the TV, word for word.

Mustafa and Zaid grew up in Homs, with their parents, but when the conflict broke out, were forced to flee. That was five years ago. Today they live in a small house in Mafraq, north Jordan, where he met Mohammad, who also hails from Homs. Mustafa and Mohammad have been friends for as long as they can remember and trust each other completely. “When I tell him a secret he doesn’t tell anyone and if he tells me one I never tell it to anyone”.

Asked what they want to be when they grow up, Mustafa says he wants to be a soccer player because he always plays with his friend. Mohammad doesn’t share his sentiment, quickly collapsing into giggles. Eventually they decide that they do indeed share the same dream.

One thing they do agree on is their time in Syria. “I remember we had a huge field with green grass in it and we had a huge living room. We used to play on our bicycles, my brothers and me,” says Mustafa, with Mohammad adding, “We used to have dogs, ducks, and chickens”.

The boys have made up their minds already about where they’d like to settle down. Mustafa would like to return to Syria when the war comes to an end.

You’d be mistaken if you thought the boys were concerned about being separated, though.

“It’s easy I know how to use a mobile phone,” says Mohammad matter-of-fact. “I’d like to go and visit Mustafa in Syria One Day.”

Click here to watch Mustafa and Mohammed’s story.

*All names in this story have been changed to protect the identity of the beneficiaries. The pseudonyms have been chosen by the beneficiaries themselves.

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