Lebanon: Dar El Awlad School

LEBANON HOME

LOCATION

Lebanon is one of the world’s smallest countries, and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, Syria, and Israel.

The ‘Dar El Awlad’ Children’s Home is situated on a mountain ridge overlooking the capital city, Beirut, and Dar El Awlad School is located on the same campus.

BACKGROUND

As well as providing the boys at the Home with a home, food, clothes, and a ‘mother’ to care for their day-to-day needs, we consider it vital that we provide them with appropriate educational and technical training skills that will equip them for future employment. Unfortunately, the majority of boys arrive at our Home several years behind with their education. Many have learning difficulties and are simply unable to cope with the stress that studying in a ‘mainstream’ government school brings. In 1997, we began teaching a group of our boys in four spare rooms in the Home, and in October 1999, we opened a brand-new school building. As well as our residential children, the school helps many poor children in the local community from a range of different nationalities, including some from Sudanese, Sri Lankan, Filipino, Iraqi and Palestinian backgrounds.

The school building has eight classrooms, a library, and an outdoor playground area. The walls are painted bright colors, which is most unusual for a Lebanese school. The school is closely linked to our Technology Center where children are taught a range of practical skills such as woodwork and mechanics.

PROGRAMS

The school has classes for Kindergarten and Grades one to Six. The subjects taught include Arabic, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technology and Bible. The sixty children in the school are divided into seven class groups, and enjoy working in a learning environment where they are able to receive plenty of help, care, and attention. Each class has a maximum of ten pupils, and we provide extra one-to-one support for those who have particular learning difficulties.

FUTURE
We are continually looking at ways that we can improve our curriculum, Special Needs Program, and the range of resources that we have. We are also looking to develop a Careers Education Program, which will teach children about different job possibilities and offer them the opportunity for Work Experience Weeks as a part of their school program.

There are great opportunities for missionaries to come and serve in the school as Teachers or Teaching Assistants. Please contact Kids Alive for more information.