Kindergarten for 100 Syrian children in Lebanon

The school year is underway with 110 students (44 girls and 66 boys) enrolling in October 2023.
Before classes began, training sessions were conducted by the project officer and coordinator for the entire education team. The topics covered included a Child Protection Policy refresher, the introduction of the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum and a training session conducted by a psychologist focused on the Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy. All teachers and staff were required to sign acceptance of these policies.

The SEL curriculum encourages expressive arts activities and music and movement experiences so the children can freely express themselves,. It fosters creativity, self-expression, and emotional processing. These diverse activities are designed to promote development and well-being in preschool-aged children.

Liaison with families received further attention and now weekly lesson journals are shared with parents, offering insights into their child's educational journey. Assignments are sent over weekends to evaluate the assimilation of class content and foster better communication and collaboration between teachers and parents.

The monthly parent meetings continue. They address various topics such as school rules and regulations, creating a positive learning environment, assessing and tracking progress, promoting positive parenting, and providing psychological support for parents dealing with the impact of the current crisis on their well-being. It is a time of severe uncertainty in southern Lebanon and parents need support in order to care for their children well.

The sessions are designed to assist parents in managing distress and navigating the challenges arising from the current situation. Additionally, they provide parents with an opportunity to monitor their children's academic and social progress, enabling them to align their efforts with those of the school and achieve improved outcomes.