Refugee Education Program

Lebanon is home to approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees. Almost half of the refugees in Lebanon are children. Many children have been out of school for years or have never had a formal education.

Education offers a bridge to a brighter future for millions of Syrian refugee children who have been affected by conflict. It provides children with the opportunities that they need to succeed and the skills and knowledge to rebuild future generations.

Since June 2013, Jusoor’s Refugee Education Program has helped thousands of displaced Syrian children continue their education outside of Syria. The program seeks to ensure Syrian refugee children in Lebanon have a holistic, well rounded primary school education and a strong psychosocial support system. Our education programs have been developed as responses to distinct challenges that children face due to the impact of the conflict in Syria.

The program is designed to prepare students to transition into Lebanese formal schooling as smoothly as possible and catch up on gaps in education that many of Jusoor’s students have experienced.

COVID-19 UPDATE

With the COVID-19 pandemic, since March 2020, Jusoor’s Educational Centers have been closed and the children have been learning from home through Jusoor’s Azima: Determined to Learn Program. Through a 3-prong approach of WhatsApp based online learning, take home packets and online psychosocial support, the children are continuing to thrive and learn from home. Find out more about Jusoor’s innovative online learning program in the short video below:

Jusoor’s Azima Program comes at a time when Lebanon is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, and the future of formal schooling is uncertain. In this context, Jusoor is committed to providing an effective virtual learning experience to refugee children, to ensure that they are receiving the same quality of education as their national peers, and that their academic and socio-emotional development does not deteriorate. 

For the safety of our beneficiaries and teachers, the majority of children in our education centers will continue with online learning until December 2020.

Jusoor currently runs three educational centers in Lebanon. Our main center is located in Jeb Jenin in West Bekaa where there is a huge education gap for Syrian children. The center currently serves around 750 Syrian children aged 6-12 years. We also run a tented school in Jurahiya in collaboration with Sawa for Aid and Development in one of the largest informal camps in Middle Bekaa which serves over 300 Syrian children, mostly residents from the Jurahiya camp. The center operates two shifts (morning and afternoon), constituting six classrooms, including Jusoor’s only early childhood education classrooms for 3-5-year-olds. Finally, our Beirut center provides education for around 200 Syrian children. Our classes are run by talented Syrian teachers and we also have a full-time counselor who provides psychosocial support to the children and teachers, as well as training for the staff.

Jusoor follows the Lebanese curriculum and runs additional classes in peace education, identity, integrated art and a tailor-made English program.

Jusoor partners with different NGOs to provide various activities for the students as well as hygiene sessions and basic medical support when needed.

• Al- Makassed Philanthropic Association
• Sawa for Aid and Development
• Sada Al Bekaa Association
• Right To Play
• International Medical Committee
• Basmeh & Zaitouneh
• CARE for special needs
• EDT Education Development Trust
• Salam
• CatalyticAction
• KAFA

We would like to extend our gratitude to the Lebanese community that has generously hosted our activities and to our amazing volunteers who are the heart and soul of our centers and behind the success of our work.

For more information about the refugee education program, our schools and partnerships, please contact: