Standing Hand in Hand with Beirut

Introduction; 

The humanitarian situation in Lebanon in general and in the refugee camps in particular continues to worsen, triggering increased poverty and despair. The economic collapse ranks among the worst globally in modern times. It has caused severe inflation and unemployment, putting basic living costs out of reach for tens of thousands of people and resulting in acute humanitarian needs. According to UNRWA protection report, the worsening socio-economic situation in Lebanon has put 93 percent of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon below the poverty line .The protection situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon in 2023 continued to be heavily affected by the ongoing socio-economic crisis, political instability, and financial strains and there is an increase in the number of child labor, working in informal and unregulated jobs, or ending up on the streets collecting garbage and begging all over the country, and across all population groups. Nine percent of families residing in Lebanon sent their child to work, 15 percent stopped their children’s education and 60 percent had to buy food on credit or borrow money.

Moreover Children's life have been badly influenced by the crisis in Lebanon, which has affected family ties, education, health, welfare, and poverty. According to UNICEF research, the effects of multidimensional child poverty extend well beyond issues related to health, work, and income. Although children have a strong awareness of their rights, there have also been detrimental effects in family dynamics, such as guilt and regret. These hardships have a substantial negative influence on mental health, and children's access to protection has been hampered by rising rates of violence and unsafe conditions.

Main Achievements;

- Providing 400 children aged 4 to 12 years in Rashydieh and Ein El helweh Camps with a friendly environment that ensures their health, education and psycho-social development. Knowing that, 50 out of them will be enrolled in KG, while the 350 children aged 6 years are referred and follow up is taking place in their UNRWA schools with the basic literacy and numeracy program.

- 500 parents and caregivers motivated to be engaged in their children's learning and well-being

Providing educational intervention in Ein el Helwe and Rashidieh and track the academic performance of the children

-3 school visits per year per child in order to follow up the children’s performance and attendance while the third visit will be paid to collect the children’s marks

- Enrolled 50 children per year in Nabaa KG.

-Refer 20 children dropouts of school children per year to vocational training canters. While covering their fees, transportation and needed stationary will be done internally through Nabaa programs or through the referral mechanism with other local partners.

-1 week summer recreational activities for 400 sponsored children

- 1 trip per year for children

Case Study; 

J.A. is a Palestinian refugee aged 6 years old who lives in an EEHC camp with his parents. At the beginning of the academic year, his mother registered him to receive learning support. But during attending educational classes, the teacher observed a psychological symptom (being alone and unable to accept his classmates). So the teacher referred him to Nabaa psychologist, and after the home visit was doneJamal's mother informed that, based on medical detection, he has first-degree autism, and she was frightened to deny him registration. However, the psychologist informed his mother that all children are treated equally and her son would still receive learning support along with a psychosocial plan to help him integrate with his peers and accept others

Finally, during mid-year, the teacher observed improvement in his behaviour, and he started accepting others improvements in his educational performance.

Links:

• Naba'a Website
• Naba'a Website