New Syriac kindergarten in Zalin in North and East Syria opens its doors

ZALIN, Syria — A new Syriac kindergarten has opened in Zalin (Qamishli) in North and East Syria. Mayka Gouriya, an administrator at the newly opened Zalka Kindergarten, noted that they began receiving children on 27 September and have set up a program in the Syriac, Arabic, and Kurdish languages to prepare the children to enter the first grade by teaching them letters, writing, and reading, as well as teaching them languages by listening to songs.

Gouriya said they receive children from the ages of 3 to 5 ½ years old. The feedback from parents has so far been overwhelmingly positive.

The Zalka kindergarten was inaugurated by the Syriac Women’s Union in cooperation with Caritas Slovakia. The Syriac Women Union stated on the project that “the kindergarten is part of a series of projects that we have been able to carry out over the past year thanks to the generous financial support of Caritas Slovakia. We are very pleased that they have pledged their continued support for the coming year as well.”

Zalka means “sunbeam” in Syriac.