About the Syrian crisis

Hundreds of thousands of refugee children from Syria hundreds of children have sought refuge outside Syria, while the conflict has entered its 9^th year. They live with their families in camps or houses, and are especially vulnerable to exploitation, such as child trafficking and child labour. Often, they cannot attend school. The project ‘Back to the Future’ answers the educational needs of these children to become the builders of a brighter future for Syria and the region. More than 630,000 Syrian refugee children in Lebanon and more than 327,000 in Jordan are aged between 3 and 18 years; 60 per cent of them are out of school. Over 447,000 vulnerable Lebanese need education assistance. An entire generation is growing up with little reason to nurture hope in a better future. This is why education is crucial for the development of the host community and the refugees affected by the conflict.

About the project

With the support of the European Union Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian Crisis, the ‘EU Madad Fund’, AVSI, Terre des Hommes Italy and War Child Holland launched the project ‘Back to the Future’.

During phase 1 (December 2016 – June 2019), the project promoted enrollment and improved retention in formal education, for refugee and vulnerable children from local communities. Back to the Future also enhanced the learning environment by upgrading school buildings. The project supported formal and non-formal activities for pre-school and school-aged children (three to seventeen years old).

While in phase 2 (June 2019 – June 2021), the project overall objective is to guarantee a protective learning environment to vulnerable girls’ and boys’ in Lebanon. Furthermore, the Specific Objective is to ensure that vulnerable girls’ and boys’ girls and boys in marginalized communities in Lebanon have access to integrated quality basic education and protection.

Phase 1: December 2016 – June 2019

School readiness, inclusion and retention for child victims of the Syrian crisis in Lebanon and Jordan.

Over three years (2016-2019), the project ‘Back to the Future’ has provided educational support for 21,700 local vulnerable and refugee children, and ensured the upgrading of 22 public schools across Lebanon and Jordan.

Results:

Lebanon:

• 19,022 children enrolled in our educational activities.
  • 10,915 children enrolled in our non-formal education activities.
  • 8,107 children benefited from learning support program.
• 6,412 children referred to formal education.
• 8 public schools upgraded.
• 57,363 individuals reached through home visits and informed about non formal and formal education opportunities in their communities.
• 591 staff members, teachers and volunteers, trained on child protection, first aid and animation skills.

Jordan:

• 2,700 children enrolled in our educational and non-formal education activities.
• 15 public schools upgraded.
• 44 teachers and education practitioners trained.

Budget: 15,154,764 euros

• Contribution from the European Union: 12,123,811 euros
• Contribution from the project's partner: 3,030,953 euros

Amount spent:14,977,665 euros (98,8% of the budget)

• Contribution from the European Union: 11,982,132 euro
  • received in two tranches:
    _ 19/01/2017: 5,284,651 euros
    _ 06/06/2018: 5,005,171 euros
    Plus a tranche of 1.692.310 euros to reimbursement after the European Union follow-up and the independent financial audit required by contract, which verified the regularity of the expenses incurred in accordance with the laws and regulations in force and in accordance with the loan agreement.
    Throughout the duration of the project, the European Union monitored the activities regularly and directly through its staff on the field (Beirut and Amman) and in its headquarters (Brussels)
• Contribution from the European Union: 2,995,533

Phase 2: June 2019 – June 2021

A protective and nurturing environment to increase access to school, inclusion and retention for children impacted by the Syrian Crisis in Lebanon and vulnerable Lebanese.

The project ‘Back to the Future’ aims at providing a protective and nurturing environment for over 16,955 local vulnerable and refugee children, ensuring extracurricular activities for 5,380 children, and referring 350 children at risk and/or with special needs to specialized services. In addition, it will indirectly impact 12,200 students through the upgrading 18 public schools and 4 learning centers across Lebanon.

Expected Results:

Lebanon

• 16,955 children will be enrolled in our educational activities.
  • 7,910 children will be enrolled in our non-formal education activities.
  • 9,045 children will benefit from the learning support program.
• 5,470 children will benefit from inclusive structured psychosocial support programs and extracurricular activities​.
• 350 children at risk and/or with special needs identified will be referred to specialized services.
• 5530 children will be referred to formal education.
• 18 public schools will be upgraded through additional facilities such as playgrounds, theaters, informatic labs etc.
• 18,597 individuals will be reached through home visits and informed about non-formal and formal education opportunities in their communities.
• 3,580 caregivers and community members will be involved in activities of community awareness on child protection, prevention and services for response and will be engaged in community activities.
• 530 staff members, teachers and volunteers will be trained on child protection, first aid and animation skills.

Our educational activities:

In our ‘Back to the Future’ community centers we provide:

• Community-Based Early Childhood Education (CB-ECE) for children aged 3 to 5.
• Basic Literacy and Numeracy (BLN) for children aged 8 to 14 (BTF phase 1) and 10 to 14 (BTF phase 2).
• Foreign language courses (FLC), English and French (in Lebanon) to prepare children enrolled in grade 1 to 9. In Lebanon, the teaching language is either English or French, while in the refugees’ country of origin, it’s Arabic.
• Homework Support (HWS) for children enrolled in grade 1 to 9.

In public schools we support enrolled children with:

• Remedial Classes (RC): summer classes for in-school children, enrolled in grade 1 to 9, at risk of drop out/demonstrating poor grades in their previous academic year.
• Homework Support (HWS): Afternoon classes for in-school children, enrolled in grade 1 to 9, at risk of drop out/demonstrating poor grades in all subjects.

Program partners

EU (Regional Madad Trust Fund) | AVSI | Terre des Hommes Italy | Terre des Hommes Netherlands | War Child Holland