“Back to the Future” consortium opens 19 educational and community centers across Lebanon

“Back to the Future I” consortium opens 19 educational and community centers across Lebanon.

 

Financed by the ‘Madad’ EU Trust Fund the project enables 18,682 refugee and vulnerable children to go to school in Lebanon and Jordan.

During the month of September 2017, the ‘Back to the Future’ project consortium has inaugurated 19 educational and community centers in the North, South, Mount Lebanon and Nabatieh governorates of Lebanon.

18.682 Syrian refugee children back to school

The project promotes enrolment and improves retention in the formal education system of refugee children and vulnerable children from host communities in Lebanon and Jordan. Over the course of three years, the programme will directly benefit more than 18,682 vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian children.

Financed by the EU

This 15 million Euro project is funded by the EU Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian Crisis – the ‘Madad Fund’ – and is implemented by AVSI, Terre des Hommes Italia, Terre des Hommes Netherlands and War Child Holland.

The right to go to school

“The EU is determined to help children affected by the Syrian conflict maintain one of their most fundamental rights – the right to go to school. ‘Back to the Future’ is demonstrating that our concerted effort can answer the educational needs of these children to enable them to become the builders of a brighter future for Syria and the region,” said Julia Koch de Biolley, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon.

Each child is unique

“Each child is unique and has a unique story. This is why our project aims to take care of each one of them, to allow them to live a better life and go ‘Back to their Future’”, as Lucia Castelli, Chief of Party for the project consortium, describes the expanded scope of this project.

The consortium will work together using a comprehensive, flexible and responsive approach built around RACE II (Reaching All Children with Education Initiative) and Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP) supporting formal and non-formal activities for preschool and school-aged boys and girls.

The activities at these centers include:

  • Early childhood education;
  • Basic literacy and numeracy activities;
  • Foreign language courses – English and French;
  • Learning and homework support;
  • Psychosocial support activities for children, adolescents and their caregivers.

Renovated school facilities and transport

As part of the project, various school facilities will be renovated to prepare them for the activities. Another important element for the success of the project is the school transport offered to the children, allowing a higher number of children to attend the school courses.