Synopsis "Witnesses to War: The Children of Syria "
Award-winning photojournalist Bassam Khabieh has created a uniquely impactful study of the lives of children during conflict in his forthcoming book, Witnesses to War: The Children of Syria. The book's power is deepened with the addition of an introductory essay and interview by acclaimed writer Alia Malek (The Home That Was Our Country: A Memoir of Syria), Bassam's personal vignettes, and a timeline of the major elements of the long conflict. A student who became a war photographer out of necessity, Khabieh's images reflect eight years of life within rebel-held Eastern Ghouta. While enduring endless waves of bombs and chemical attacks, he picked up a camera in order to document the war crimes being perpetuated against the families with whom he lived. In the photos, children and their families hold onto fragments of normalcy through bombed-out schools conducted in basements, street games played in the temporary lull of battle, and events and holidays celebrated with joy and love under tenuous conditions. Each page of the book illustrates the incredible resilience of Syria's youth in the face of violence. 100% of the net proceeds of book sales support Syrian refugee youth and communities through Karam Foundation , a nonprofit organization building 10,000 leaders for the future of Syria.