Life of Young Syrians Post-Conflict

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Everyday life Over seven in ten young Syrians residing in Syria are currently single, 15% are in relationship and 12% are married. While the situation is similar in Germany, in Lebanon more than half young Syrians is already married (51%). Unfortunately, nearly three out of ten young persons in Syria have lost touch with their friends from before the conflict. Those who have been able to keep in touch do so mostly via social media. In Lebanon, sadly, seven out of ten lost contact. They also use social media less frequently for staying in contact than Syrians in other two countries, relaying more on telephone contact. In the past twelve months, the majority of young people in Syria have experienced anxiety (73%), distress (69%), frustration (62%), depression (58%) and sleep disorders (54%). These emotional changes occur even more frequently among young Syrians in Lebanon. Hopes for the future Despite the many challenges they have faced, over seven in ten (73%) young Syrians in Syria, nearly nine in ten (87%) in Germany, and half (50%) of those living in Lebanon are optimistic about their future. They are hoping to find stability, to be 'happy' in general and to have a family. These hopes reflect what they consider to bring them happiness, so, reflecting on this, almost four in five young Syrians in Syria name safety and security (78%), and more then seven in ten family and friends (73%) as the greatest sources of happiness. Further, over nine in ten (94%) in Germany, and seven in ten (71%) in Lebanon feel accepted in their new country of residence. However, in both countries, the majority of respondents continue to consider Syria their home (80% in Lebanon and 60% in Germany). While an overwhelming majority of young Syrians in Germany project to stay there for another five years (80%), those in Lebanon are almost equally divided between returning to Syria (30%), remaining in the region (26%), or going to Europe (33%). Finally, many young Syrians continue to feel that their experiences are not well understood by the wider public. They wish more people knew about the negative experiences caused by the conflict in Syria (51%) and how they felt through these years (33%). 10- Ipsos

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