Canadian Jesuits International supports the work of Jesuit Refugee Service Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in Lebanon. JRS provides inclusive education and livelihoods for Syrian refugee families and vulnerable Lebanese in Bourj Hammoud.
The project addresses the need for safe and inclusive education with integrated comprehensive Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services under the framework of the JRS educational centre in the community. The project will also respond to the need for improved livelihoods through courses, coaching and mentorship in the JRS social center in Bourj Hammoud.
Since the beginning of the influx of Syrian refugees into Lebanon, the Lebanese government has been trying to facilitate access to education for Syrian children. However, the final decision to enroll a Syrian refugee in a Lebanese public school is left to school principals. In many cases, principals give priority to Lebanese students, leaving Syrian children behind. The cost of education, including transportation fees, lack of school supplies and administrative constraints, also prevent many struggling families from sending their children to school.
Lebanon hosts nearly 470,000 registered school-age Syrian refugee children and youth between the ages of 3 and 23, according to the latest statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, September 2023). UNHCR said 44% of those ages 6 to 17 are out of school, while 35% of youth ages 15 to 24 have never attended school.
Since the Syrian crisis started, education has received too little attention from humanitarian groups. This is having profound consequences. Children who remain out of school face threats of early marriage and child labour, and young people become frustrated and vulnerable to recruitment by radical groups. While education cannot fully answer these threats, the hope it offers can greatly diminish them.
A new strategy called RACE (Reaching All Children with Education) has been adopted by the Government of Lebanon to get all refugee children into education. The implementation of RACE has a long way to go because the educational background of Syrian children is quite different from Lebanese children and the failure rate for entrance exams is high. But JRS is one agency that is committed to helping Syrian refugee children meet the requirements of the Lebanese curriculum by tackling areas of special need through their programs.
Beneficiaries
Direct: 548 children (80% Syrian refugees, 20% Lebanese; 50% girls, 50% boys), 50 adult women
Indirect: 2,680 individuals (2,215 Syrian refugees, 465 Lebanese)
Expected results
- Increased access to safe and inclusive quality non-formal education and integrated MHPSS services for vulnerable children in JRS Education Center in Bourj Hammoud
- Enhanced economic security of caregivers in refugee and vulnerable Lebanese communities through upskilling, coaching, and mentorshipActivities
- Implementation of community-based early childhood educational activities (CBECE) in Bourj Hammoud JRS Education Center
- Provision of retention support classes to the most vulnerable students enrolled in Bourj Hammoud JRS Education Center
- Protection-focused awareness sessions for children and caregivers in Bourj Hammoud JRS Social Center
- Provision of MHPSS case management services for Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese in Bourj Hammoud JRS education and social centres
- Provision of specialized mental health services to cases identified by the social worker and the psychologist in Bourj Hammoud JRS education and social centres
- Selection of Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese with 1-2 years of work experience to participate in upskilling, coaching, and mentoring activities
- Protection-focused awareness sessions for children and caregivers in Bourj Hammoud JRS Social Center
Total project budget: $1,174,993.17
Funding requested from CJI: $130,000
JRS Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Fr Daniel Corrou SJ
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