Lebanon (MNN) — At least 100,000 children risk missing the next school year in Lebanon because of war and displacement, per the United Nations. Among those at risk are Syrian refugees, says Camille Melki of ministry Heart for Lebanon. 

“Their parents have fled the conflict there since 11 years ago, and now they have grown up in the country of Lebanon in tent refugee settlements with very meager education opportunities,” Melki says.

Syrian refugee children
(Photo courtesy of Heart for Lebanon)

Many Syrian children living in Lebanon struggle with adjusting to school in a new country, or have to leave behind opportunities in their home country. Yet the impact is not limited to refugees. The UN reports that 340 schools have been damaged or destroyed across Lebanon. 

“If we go back to 2019 till now, these are seven academic years that we have not had a full year of education,” Melki says, “Beginning with COVID, and then later on with the port of Beirut explosion, followed with the terrible financial collapse, and then the wars between Hezbollah and Israel.”

Online learning has not been an effective solution. Electricity shortages and many families having limited access to the equipment they need makes it inconsistent at best. Making education yet more difficult is an 80 percent drop in teachers’ salaries in recent years. Maysoun Chehab, senior education program specialist at UNESCO, says that 30 percent of the education sector has left Lebanon or changed professions since 2019.

The “bad news” seems never-ending, but hope remains.
(Photo courtesy of Heart for Lebanon)

Constant disruption does not just impact kids’ educational futures. It is also psychological. Melki says that children pick up on their parents’ fear over surviving and providing for their family. 

“So in all cases, you’re talking about young boys and girls who are dealing with a lot,” Melki says.

Without school, these children have no consistent outlet for everything they are going through. Heart for Lebanon is stepping in through programs for at-risk kids to support them and share the hope of Jesus. More about that here. 

“We’re looking at qualified Christian counselors to work with us. So pray for that,” Melki says. “Pray that we can find the right people to serve the children and our God-given ministry.” 

Pray that kids in Lebanon would have a hope and a future. 

 

Header photo courtesy of Heart for Lebanon.