Back to the future: Syrian refugee children enjoy a new start at school
The Guardian tells in picture our project for school readiness, inclusion and retention for child victims of the Syrian crisis in Lebanon and Jordan
With the support of the EU Trust Fund in response to the Syrian Crisis, the ‘EU Madad Fund’, the organisations AVSI, Terre des Hommes Italy, Terre des Hommes Netherlands and War Child Holland launched the project ‘Back to the Future’. Over a three-year period (2016-2019), the project will enable more than 21,700 Syrian, Lebanese and Jordanian children to go to school.
The “Back to the Future” project promotes enrolment and improves retention in the formal education system for refugee and vulnerable children from local communities in Lebanon and Jordan, and through the creation of suitable environment by rehabilitating school buildings. The project supports formal and non-formal activities for pre-school and school-aged children (aged three to 17).
Refugee children take part in learning activities at the Kayfoun village educational centre in Mount Lebanon.
© Andy Hall
These Syrian children, aged eight to 14, attend a psycho-social support class at the Back to the Future centre in Lebanon’s Akkar district.
They are among more than 450,000 Syrian refugee children in Lebanon and 240,000 in Jordan aged three to 18. Some 60% are out of school, according to UNHCR. The organisation AVSI is working with partners – War Child, Holland, Terre des Hommes, Italy and Terre des Hommes, Netherlands – to help thousands of displaced children into education. They focus on preparation for school, inclusion once in school and preventing children from dropping out early
© Andy Hall
A Syrian girl takes part in basic numeracy and literacy lessons at the Back to the Future centre in Akkar.
As a result of conflict and displacement from their home country, hundreds of thousands of Syrian children have missed out on vital months and years of their education. Children who have been out of school long-term – for three years or more – are prevented from entering the mainstream education system. Instead the government in Lebanon provides some accelerated learning programmes designed to help them catch up with their peers and attain the educational level for their age
© Andy Hall
Pupils board buses to take them home after lessons at Na’ila Zawjat Othman secondary school in Amman, Jordan
Transport can be one of the barriers to retention figures of Syrian refugee children, so the Back to the Future initiative works with schools to make sure they are accommodated. In both Jordan and Lebanon, Syrian children attend classes with pupils from the host community but the majority will attend a later shift where they will be in classes only with other refugees. Parents tend to prefer this system as they feel there are less problems with bullying and social inclusion.
© Andy Hall
Takadom public school for girls, where Syrian refugee children are integrated into the local school system. Tripoli, Lebanon.
© Andy Hall
Pubblicato da Guardian global development su Lunedì 12 novembre 2018
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