Meet Bana
Bana Alabed, a 15-year-old Syrian activist now living in Turkey, has become a powerful voice for children in warzones, advocating for peace, education, and justice. Growing up during the Syrian Civil War, Bana experienced the devastating 2016 siege of Aleppo, where she endured bombings, deprivation, and insecurity. Losing loved ones, including her best friend Yasmine, deeply shaped her determination to fight for children’s rights.
Bana began her activism by documenting the suffering of children during the war, using diaries, blogs, and social media to highlight life under siege. Her “Stand with Aleppo” campaign, which demanded the lifting of the siege affecting over 360,000 civilians, gained worldwide attention, earning her the nickname “Icon of Aleppo.” Her work called attention to the deprivation of education, fear, and displacement faced by millions of children, pressuring the global community to advocate for ceasefires and humanitarian aid.
In addition to her activism, Bana is an accomplished author and speaker. Her books, Dear World and My Name is Bana, translated into 15 languages, provide powerful firsthand accounts of war and resilience. She has written for global publications, conducted workshops, and participated in films like Voices from Syria to highlight the struggles of displaced children. Through visits to refugee camps in Turkey and Jordan, she raises awareness and offers support to war-affected families.
Bana also runs educational programs for refugee children, providing language skills and mental health support. Moving forward, she plans to expand her efforts with podcasts, documentaries, and workshops to train young activists, while building networks with global advocates. Despite immense challenges, Bana remains steadfast in amplifying the voices of war-affected children, urging the world to offer them protection, justice, and hope for a better future.
Her message is clear: “Peace is not a luxury. We want to live safely. You are not alone.”
Read our factsheet to learn more about Children’s rights in situations of armed conflict
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