The ongoing escalation of the conflict between Israel and Lebanon has now reached multiple regions across Lebanon, including the Bekaa Valley and Bourj Hammoud in Beirut, where Jusoor operates three education centers. This conflict is threatening the lives and education of children in both host and refugee communities. With the situation deteriorating, our immediate concern is ensuring the safety of our students, teachers and staff while finding ways to continue delivering education.
As of October 1st, the new academic year was set to begin, and we had been preparing for our students’ return. However, given the current environment, we’ve made the decision to suspend in-person classes until we are able to ensure the safety of our staff and students across all centers. To ensure our students’ education is not interrupted, we are shifting to remote learning through our “Azima” program, which was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide continuity in learning during times of crisis. Azima uses WhatsApp to deliver lessons in math, English, Arabic, and life skills. Azima is an easy to access and applicable method to our community members and has been recognized with an award by EdTech for its innovative approach to education.
Our Refugee Education team has quickly adapted the lessons and curriculum for Azima, delivering educational materials and psychosocial support sessions to both students and families. These sessions provide a safe space for students and parents to receive guidance and support. Additionally, we have developed and shared advanced mental health videos with parents to help families during times of crisis, which include coping tactics and exercises, complemented by booklets and stationery to help parents engage with their children in these activities. For Early Childhood Education (ECE), we are developing custom booklets with activities like tracing, coloring, and language exercises, as well as storytelling sessions where children listen to stories and answer questions to enhance their comprehension.
This situation is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles Syrian refugee children face. Fleeing the war in Syria, many of these children have already experienced significant disruptions to their education. Now, with the conflict in Lebanon escalating, they are once again at risk of being deprived of their basic right to learn. Our commitment is to make sure that their education moves forward, no matter the obstacles.
Despite the uncertainty ahead, we are dedicated to finding solutions that keep Syrian refugee children engaged in their education. Our focus will remain on safeguarding their futures, while also standing in solidarity with the Lebanese host community. In support of the wider community and the current situation everyone is facing, Jusoor’s staff is also volunteering in a local kitchen that is preparing meals for 700 families daily. We will continue to provide updates from the ground and explore ways to extend our support to all affected, including sharing the expertise of our Azima remote education program with other organizations that may benefit from it.
Update on October 16, 2024
Jusoor is stepping up to ensure educational continuity for the now 400,00 displaced children by building on the success of our award-winning WhatsApp-based learning initiative, Azima. We are expanding our reach to help children who have lost access to schools across Lebanon with our initiative Himam هـِـمَم, where we aim to bring education to over 1,100 children as our first phase.
Using the simple, familiar platform of WhatsApp, we provide learning opportunities that are accessible even during times of displacement. This initiative allows children to continue learning core subjects like Math, Arabic, and English, as well as Personal, Social, and Health Education (PSHE). Our dedicated educators provide personalized support, ensuring that children remain engaged and motivated.
Himam is about more than education—it's about hope, stability, and ambition for a better future. Act now to help these children learn, dream, and grow. Together, we can make that happen.
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