As ongoing tensions in the middle east persist, especially the terrible civil war that has so devastated Syria, millions of refugees have poured into Lebanon. Many have fled the violence and chaos of war, having had no time to even pack or prepare themselves. Many arrive by foot with only a handful of possessions. Few are entitled to state support and the majority end up in refugee camps.
All of the refugee children are behind with their education, with many having received no education at all. Most are traumatised by war, upheaval and parental loss. More recently, a catastrophic economic collapse has only compounded the situation out there.
Our work in Lebanon brings compassion, 'holistic education', care, trauma counselling and love to some of these refugee children and their families through five main projects, four based out of our 'Dar el Awlad' complex in Beirut.
These include our Oasis Care Centre, which provides specific and intensive educational support to about 50 under 11s who have had NO education at all. Our Dar el Awlad School which provides a tailor-made education for 150 or so of the most vulnerable refugee children. Our Lighthouse Project serves about 120 of the mums and older sisters who live in abject conditions, struggling to navigate life in a country where they are not welcome.
Our Dar El Awlad complex also provides residential support for about 35 children who have been abandoned or lost, or who have no parents at all.
Further south, our New Horizons Centre, serves impoverished Bedouin (gypsy) children, as well as providing life skills and livelihood training to teenage Syrian refugee girls.