( CNN ) -- In the midst of uncertainty , Mizune , 14 , one of thousands of refugees who fled Syria since the civil war began , is sure of one thing : `` We can help and improve our nation with education . '' These are not just words ; she turns them into action . Despite her young age , she is determined to make it known in the camp that a brighter future begins in the classroom . Mizune , whose father asked not to use her last name , arrived in Za'atari , Jordan , along with her family when the massive refugee influx began . She has spent her time promoting education in the camp , where half of the population is made up of children . Much of her time in Za'atari has been spent going from tent to tent , from mosque to mosque , talking to children and parents about why getting back in the classroom is important . `` It 's very important to me and important to society that I raise awareness . I want to emphasize the importance of education , '' she said . For her effort , she has been called the `` Malala of Za'atari , '' in reference to Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai . On October 9 , 2012 , a gunman shot Malala when she was going home from school . She survived and has continued to speak out on the importance of education . In fact , Malala and Mizune are friends , having spent many hours together in the Za'atari camp when Malala visted there in February.. Mizune shares the same passion for education . `` We would go to tents and talk to people about their most pressing problems that prevent them from going to school . We would try to find solutions and talk about the rights of children to education , '' she said . Mizune 's work started when UNICEF began building schools in Za'atari . Mizune saw this and decided to help . `` Children are the most important people in society , '' she said . `` Parents influence their kids , so the most important thing was educating the parents . People listened , and some had different points of view , but we were able to convince a big number to come to school . '' At this point , about 70 % of the children in the camp attend school . According to Michele Servadei from UNICEF , the children 's parents have been the biggest challenge when it comes to education . `` In many cases , parents think that they 're going to go back ( to Syria ) soon , '' he said , `` and it 's not worth sending the children to be educated . '' The ongoing Syrian civil war , which started its third year in March , began when protests against President Bashar al-Assad 's regime erupted in Daraa . Demonstrations and unrest spread to nearly every city in Syria . The government responded with military action . Thousands have died , and millions have fled the country . As of February , there are an estimated 2.6 million Syrian refugees are spread across Iraq , Jordan , Lebanon , Turkey and Egypt . Back in Za'atari , challenges are infinite , ranging from water supply and mobile home distribution to keeping warm during the winter . Za'atari has become the second largest refugee camp in the world . If it were a city , it would the fifth-largest in Jordan . As many as 150,000 people live in the camp . However , that number changes every day as hundreds come or go . Days go by , and an end to the Syrian crisis does not seem near , but Mizune , who dreams of someday becoming a Journalist , is already thinking of better days for her country 's future . `` A kid will face many challenges in their lives , '' she said , `` and it 's important to take advantage of education despite the circumstances , because life will go on . ''
With the help of one teen , 70 % of children at Jordanian refugee camp now attend school . Mizune has been called `` the Malala of Za'atari '' for her efforts . The story is a sad one, but it shows that even in this day and age there are still people who have the courage to stand up against injustice.