Story
The journey of education for Syrian refugee children in the Bekaa Valley has begun, with just a little more support needed to keep them on this path.
Since 2015, Basmeh & Zeitooneh (B&Z) has been supporting Syrian refugee children in accessing non-formal education programs and facilitating their path to formal education afterward, with the overarching goal of enhancing the potential of these young individuals for a better future.
Basmeh & Zeitooneh Education program provides a safe environment for approximately 2200 children in Bekaa and Shatila each year. It is designed to provide a learning model that adopts the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s endorsed and approved non-formal educational curriculum.
Alarming figures for the Syrian refugee community reveal that in 2022, 24,140 Syrian children were engaged in child labor, while the number of street-connected children has been reported to be even higher. According to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education's (MEHE) 2020/21 enrollment data, the number of out-of-school non-Lebanese children between the ages of 3 and 18 has reached a staggering 440,000.
At Basmeh & Zeitooneh Bekaa Learning Center, we're proud to enroll about 1300 refugee children from the Bekaa Valley each year. Our center is dedicated to delivering education in a secure space that fosters self-expression. Our mission is to create a safe and inclusive learning experience that prioritizes the well-being of every child. Our structured education program offers:
Early Childhood Education (ECE): Our ECE program targets out-of-school Syrian refugee children aged between 5 and 6 years old. It follows the Lebanese Ministry of Education & Higher Education curriculum.
Basic Literacy & Numeracy (BLN): The main objective of the BLN program is to provide out-of-school children with foundational skills in reading, writing, and numeracy among learners, enabling them to acquire essential knowledge for continued education and improved life opportunities that will allow them to enter formal schools. The BLN program consists of four subjects through three cycles: Arabic, English, math, and life skills.
Remedial & Retention Support: Our Remedial & Learning Support Program targets children from Grade 1 until Grade 6, where we support children in four main subjects: Arabic, English, Math, and Science, in addition to music as an extracurricular activity.
You Can Help Through:
Your donations will directly support the educational needs of refugee children in the Bekaa Valley. The funds raised will ensure the sustained operation of the B&Z education program in Bekaa, covering essential expenses such as educational materials, stationery, transportation, instruction, heating, electricity generation, and operational costs.
• Transportations (child per year) = 315 USD annually
• Stationary booklets (child per year) = 90 USD
• Operational Costs (class per month) = 2200 USD, including heating and utilities
• Sponsor a Child (1 child through a year) = 1100 USD on average
• Educational services (class per month) = 1760 USD
Your support will be directed towards projects that foster educational opportunities for refugee children, ensuring a secure environment for them to learn, thrive, and take their next steps forward.