Syrian Emergency Task Force

Ten years ago, Jeff Kelley and his late wife Norma believed in a kindergarten in war-torn Syria when the world began turning its back on the conflict. They were among the first supporters of the Wisdom House in 2016.

In 2020, the Assad regime bombed that original school. Despite the regime's best efforts, the Wisdom House survived as we relocated north alongside the community.

Last year, when Jeff visited the school for the first time and saw the children learning in a temporary location, he made a promise: he would help bring the Wisdom House home. Last week, he came back with his daughter to see that promise kept.

Thanks to the Kelley's and an incredible community of donors, the Norma Kelley Wisdom House is officially open again in its original village and building, educating the kids of Al-Ghadfa!

These kids are the 10th Wisdom House graduating class, 105 children who finished kindergarten last month. We are so proud of them all!

Education is the foundation of rebuilding Syria and supporting future generations. Thank you to the Kelleys and to everyone who has supported the Wisdom House and our high school for girls, Tomorrow's Dawn.

The Washington Post reports: "Unless the State Department lifts Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, the new government’s reconstruction efforts could go to Chinese firms at American industry’s expense."

Read the full story at: https://wpintelligence.washingtonpost.com/topics/2026/06/15/syria-sanctions-are-holding-us-businesses-back-chinas-benefit/

The SETF team traveled up from Damascus yesterday to visit our high school for girls, Tomorrow’s Dawn.

On our way we stopped al-Shmal Private University to find ways of collaboration and talk to an auditorium of over one hundred students.