The most usual employment for children is in manual labour, such as working with electricians, blacksmiths and car mechanics and painters.
Mohammad, 13, works at a garage in his city of Maarrat al-Numan. His mother told Damascus Bureau she had no choice but to send him out to work after his father was martyred, so he could help her raise his younger siblings.
According to Syrian law, it is illegal for children under the age of 15 to work, but these laws are being ignored in opposition control areas.
Find flere af IWPR's “Global Voices”-artikler her
