OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Primary school for children between 4 and 12 years
Literacy for women in the camps
Computer courses for young students
Special need school “Little Switzerland4Syria”
Music School
Mourjjan4Children Creative Workshops
Our local implementing partner, Beit bil Jnoub (NGO), has rented and fitted out a building comprising five classrooms, a kitchen and a restroom. One of our goals for 2019 is to expand our operations to provide a shaded outdoor playground, for which we are currently seeking sponsors.
In our first semester in 2016 of operations we had 35 enrolled students, which quickly grew to 70 by our second semester. Now in our third full year of operations, we have 140 students between the ages of four and twelve and a waiting list of an additional 40 children hoping to enroll.
While some Syrian refugees are able to attend local Lebanese schools in after-hours programs, we are serving refugee communities living on the outskirts of villages that do not offer these programs. Furthermore, we are working in the South, a region where few other international organizations are active.
Literacy for women in the camps
We started this project at the beginning of March 2017.
After teaching their children in our school since 2016, we have also won the trust of mothers. And they saw the zeal with which their children go to school and enjoy learning. Over time, mothers came to us, some shy, some even ashamed, but all of them wanted one thing: to learn to read and write as well.
In the first phase two part-time teachers returned to the camps and offered afternoon sessions for the mothers twice a week. 25 women were taught in the pilot program. The request grew quickly and within a very short period of time over 100 women participated in this program! The effect is still enormous. The women are overjoyed and gain hope and receive their perspective back. This has also a very positive influence on their families and the community.
It-Vocational Training
The digital training program targets vulnerable youth: Syrian, Palestinian and Lebanese from ages 15 to 30+. It teaches them basic computer skills, first of all how to operate a computer with all its keys and functions. Once this is taught, participants begin learning Microsoft Office, using word, PowerPoint and excel. Participants go through beginners, intermediate and advanced cycles, each lasting from 2 to 3 months. They also learn the AutoCad program, which develops basic design drawings for architects/architectural firms.
Most of the program’s participants are female. There is a high demand for computer literacy.
There is a huge need to introduce different programs enhancing the technological intelligence and skills of young people. Thus, they can have a greater opportunity to access the market and become employed. Participants always express their desire to learn new programs, especially since they have access to smartphones and some of them to computers.
Special Need School “Kleine Schweiz4Syria”
Thanks to the “Oberwallis für Kinder unserer Welt” foundation, we were able to start the special need school after a long delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Children who are traumatized, have school difficulties or suffer from slight disabilities, take part of this class. They receive special care in a small class. We have employed two specialists who work specifically with the children. The demand and need in this area is immense, which is why it is our goal to expand this class soon and to rent additional rooms.
Music School
The Music Initiation and Appreciation Project proposes to equip 30 refugee and children from marginalized communities with the music skills needed to find a job or work in music industry as they grow older as well as provide them with a safe space for expression and creation of a peaceful artistic community. The project is divided into two phases. The first phase aims to introduce children, over a four-month period, to different music styles and to give them a chance to appreciate the music through demonstration of music details behind successful examples. Students will further be trained to find the rhythm, beats and pulse in music through the use of percussion sets purchased for the project. Each student will receive a recorder through the project to practice at home. Students will receive ear and voice training and the project will introduce to students the occidental and oriental musical instruments so they can choose their future instrument in the second phase of the project.
Students will be invited to attend an intensive 4-hour day session of music appreciation twice per month at the community center. They will be divided into two groups (15 students per class). If more funding is secured, phase II of the project entails selecting the most talented students and providing advanced music classes to the selected group.
The first music session took place on February 19, 2022. The local partner began with a class of 15 students as a pilot session. The class kicked off with a huge success, so that already 30 kids are participating.
Music Expert Name: Nidal Abi Samra
Experience: Saxophonist, pianist, composer and arranger. Studied at Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) Lebanon, where he graduated with a Maitrise in musicology and ethnomusicology. Nidal is a teacher at the Lebanese National Conservatory since 1997. He has performed in different musical styles from Jazz to Pop to Classical, with many Lebanese and international bands and singers such as Feiruz, Ziad Al Rahbany, Charbel Rouhana, Gabriel Yared, Lebanese National Conservatory Big Band, Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra.
The music school is made possible thanks to the support of the Hirschmann Foundation.
Mourjjan4Children - Creative Workshop
Mourjjan4Children is a creative education program for children who have experienced trauma in their early lives.
We believe that every child should have the opportunity to learn how to self-regulate their emotions, acquire intercultural social skills and use their innate creative nature.
The program provides a safe space for children to step out of their familiar environment and develop a deeper understanding of who they are, what is important to them and how they want to make choices that will affect their future.
The children also develop ideas for a textile product, which in turn supports your program financially. At the same time, SWISS MADE and LEBANESE production supports local industry and craftsmanship. One hand helps the other.
In this way, they experience the cycle of the creative process first hand. Last year we made two silk foulards from children's drawings. This year, the children worked with modelling clay and created motifs for a hoodie.
READ4LIFE BY CUCKOO - Coming soon
Children's books are journeys. Journeys to faraway places, to adventures and colorful worlds.
But beyond that, children's books are also a milestone of education. Various studies show that children who grow up surrounded by books and who regularly read stories, have a larger vocabulary and later in school have an immense advantage.
That is why CuckooBooks wants to provide books with a first mobile library in our community center Masar. Syrian refugee and Lebanese children will be taught there.
The project is accompanied by measures to promote reading: Reading circles, reading aloud and reading together are planned and, in addition, children will learn to discovering the value of a book.
