CONCEPT NOTE Yalla! School in Aley

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1 Yalla! Pour les Enfants 13, rue René Villermé PARIS France: +33 (0) Leb: CONCEPT NOTE Yalla! School in Aley Yalla! for humanitarian outreach Yalla! Pour les Enfants is a humanitarian association created under French law in July Yalla! sets citizen initiatives in France and Lebanon in motion, providing humanitarian aid to refugees and displaced children in order that their most basic rights, guaranteed by the Convention on the rights of the child 1989, are respected, even in exile. Yalla! is an independent, apolitical, non-sectarian, and impartial association. Yalla! has been a member of the Collective Development for Syrian Relief (CODSSY) since May Our philosophy To develop international solidarity by creating a bridge between those civil societies able to help and those who are in need of help: Yalla! allows participating civil society members to see the impact of their donations through a streamlined structure close to the donors and recipients. Yalla! involves aide beneficiaries in all stages of project development, from design to evaluation, to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of its projects. Legal basis for our action Yalla! Pour les Enfants is an association under French law, created on the basis of the 1901 associations law. Its action is aimed at the implementation of international instruments relating to human rights and humanitarian principles: The seven fundamental principles of humanitarian aid established by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. ( The Universal Human Rights guaranteed by the The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, among which: equality and human dignity. Universal children s rights guaranteed by the Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989, which accounts for the child's right to grow and access to free and compulsory primary education. Our resources Yalla! finances its actions through : Membership support Donations of individuals and businesses Crowdfunding operations through our W4 partnership CODSSY s financial support Furthermore, Yalla! aims to sustain its actions through institutional financial support.

2 Our mission : Education today for the peace of tomorrow Yalla! s primary mission is to place children, whose educational journey has been stunted due to conflict, back in school. Yalla! participates in the peace-building between different ethnic and religious communities, and between refugee and host communities. The context of our action Victims of the war in Syria, more than 1.2 million Syrians, have taken refuge in neighboring Lebanon. Of these nearly 400,000 children, less than a quarter have access to education. Unfortunately, the already saturated Lebanese education system cannot absorb such a large number of additional students. Moreover, given the scale of the crisis, international humanitarian aid focuses on housing needs, food and medical help, ignoring the area of primary education, which remains a priority in emergency situations. Aley authorities estimate that 5,000 Syrian refugee children are currently living in the urban area of Aley. Among them, 1000 are registered in a Lebanese school as part of a second shift program, and the authorities estimate that 500 Syrian children are enrolled in Lebanese public or private schools. Our objectives 1/Promoting children s right to an education Allowing the child to develop in a secure and reassuring environment and to find the confidence to heal his or her wounds related to exile and conflict. Bring the child up to grade-level and reintroduce them to the daily school rhythm. à To allow the child to reach his or her potential as an individual and to integrate into the society in which he or she is developing. 2/ Preventing conflicts with the host community Syrians and Lebanese of all faiths, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds working together around a unifying project and learning about themselves in a positive environment, where equality and mutual respect prevail Syrian and Lebanese children of all backgrounds learn about each other through fun activities. à Pacified relationships between the two communities. Our strategy Integrate the aid recipients and the host community in the installation, implementation, and evaluation of the project à Ensure mutual understanding of the issues and objectives and thus contribute to the success of the mission. Respect the coordination of humanitarian assistance led by the United Nations humanitarian agencies à Integrate Yalla! in global action to more efficiency meet the most pressing needs. Create a dynamic link between donors and recipients for locally-based solidarity à Ensure visibility in the destination and the impact of the donation, regardless of its amount à Giving hope to aid recipients by sending them a concrete message of support from the civil society in solidarity.

3 Our project: The Yalla! School in Aley : Education and integration for 200 Syrian children who are refugees in Lebanon Yalla! s project is composed of three parts: the creation of an informal school for Syrian refugee children in Aley, integration of Syrian children in the Lebanese school system, and the organization of leisure activities for Syrian and Lebanese children. The renewal of the Yalla! school in Aley Yalla! s objective is to accommodate up to 200 Syrian refugees children over two semesters, from October 2015 to June 2016, in Aley (Mount Lebanon). The Yalla! School is open from Monday to Friday in the on the premises of Lebanese partner institute, which is empty in the afternoons. The teaching staff is composed of a director of studies and five Syrian and Lebanese teachers, ensuring that the children reach grade-level in Arabic, English and Mathematics, following the Lebanese educational program, as well as other useful teaching materials such as the UNICEF program, stories, etc, in accordance with the original learning method of "Ana Aqrah." The method is child-centered, allowing the child to become independent in their learning and give them the tools necessary to the success of his or her return to school. Each day, Yalla! organizes psychosocial activities to aid the children's development and their understanding of the world around them: fine arts, theater and writing workshops, yoga, sports, gardening, as well as workshops on nutrition and hygiene. Children also benefit from introductory courses in French language and science. The successful integration of Syrian children in the Lebanese school system Yalla! works to develop advocacy from local government and the Lebanese authorities to promote the education of Syrian refugee children and to convince them of the need to educate Syrian refugee children in Lebanon. Yalla! also dialogues with the international organizations responsible for funding educational programs for refugees (UNHCR and UNICEF), so that new structures hosting refugees Syrian children can open in Aley. Yalla! gives children the tools to ensure academic success in the Lebanese school system by adapting the learning content to their needs, but by also taking into account the implemented by the Lebanese school system (Ex: emphasizing English language learning, as it the language in which scientific materials are taught in the Lebanese school system). Yalla! s educational strategy emerges through dialogue maintained throughout the year with education leaders (the Lebanese authorities, UNICEF and UNHCR, NGO counterparts.) Yalla! ensures a smooth transition into the mainstream school system by allowing Syrian children to participate in fun activities and tutoring in English organized by Yalla! every Saturday. Yalla! informs Syrian parents about the importance of enrolling their children in formal Lebanese schools once they reach grade-level. The organization of recreational activities for Syrian and Lebanese children In partnership with the local organization Noun for peace-building, sports, arts, and cultural activities are organized on week ends and holidays for 100 Syrian and Lebanese children at Yalla! school. These activities are aimed at developing positive interactions between the Syrian and Lebanese children, and to participate in the building of peace between the two communities. Ex: A self-portrait workshop is scheduled for children 10 years and older. Using a camera, each child must make a short video of about 3 minutes. Each session will be filmed by the child himself, assisted by the head of the studio. This will serve as a time during which the children can express themselves. It is a simple and effective way to communicate. With permission from parents, the videos could then be disseminated within French schools to educate French schoolchildren to the situation of refugee children, while bringing peace between the communities. The videos will be integrated onto the association s website and will illustrate the work of the association in Lebanon.

4 Project Name Yalla! School in Aley Project Dates From Septembre 1, 2015 to July 31, 2016 General objective Objective 1 Outcome 1.1 Input 1.1 Input 1.2 Input 1.3 Input 1.4 Outcome 1.2 Guarantee the boys and girls affected by the Syrian crisis the right to education in a protective and inclusive environment 200 Syrian refugee children in Aley will be provided a quality and innovative non-formal education Indicators 200 Syrian refugee children follow a quality educational program They (re)discover their ability to learn and benefit from remedial classes in Mathematics, Arabic and English languages, allowing them to eventually integrate into the Lebanese educational system. Communication about the opening of the Yalla! School from September 15, 2015 and two sessions of pupil registration in September and January. Recruitment of a mixed team of qualified and motivated teachers, who adhere to the values of Yalla! Courses taught in Arabic, English, and mathematics following the Lebanese program and "Ana Aqrah" method to 200 Syrian refugee children in Aley, divided into four classes (KG 3, levels 1, 2 and 3) and two semesters. Teachers receive training to improve and adapt their educational methods in difficult psychological and scholastic situations faced by refugee children. Number of students enrolled in school (registration forms) Attestation of mutual commitment signed by each professor and a representative from Yalla! Number of students participating in at least half of the courses throughout the quarter (timesheets); Teachers attendance (time sheets); Progression of students' grade level (level assessments at the beginning, half, and end of quarter). Number of training courses organized and teacher attendance (attendance sheets, training program); Updates to the director of studies during the team meetings. 200 Syrian refugee children in Aley socialize in a nurturing environment to help them overcome the destabilization linked to the war and exile. Input 1.5 Input 1.6 Input 1.8 Research stakeholder partners of any nationality to establish varied extracurricular activities for Syrian refugee children throughout the year. Athletic and artistic activities to foster openness to the world (French language courses, sciences, etc.) are carried out every day at school by specialists. Two open houses will be organized to showcase student productions and bring together parents, teachers, and local partners. Number of stakeholders (Lebanese, Syrian refugees, and international) who hold extracurricular activities for the Yalla! School on a volunteer basis. Number of students regularly participating in various activities organized during the school week (timesheets); Observations of changing student behavior (debriefing meetings with the field coordinator). Number of events organized; Feedback from the field coordinator during the events and observations

5 Objective 2 Outcome 2.1 Input 2.1 Input 2.2 Syrian refugee children are successfully integrated within the regular Indicators school system Children reach grade-level within the Yalla! school and register in a Lebanese school or a specific educational program (ALP type) and succeed in their education. Advocacy with local and government authorities, UNICEF and UNHCR to open educational structures for Syrian refugee children in Aley. Yalla! promotes the inclusion of Syrian children on grade-level in the school, through dialogue with local partners. Number of new second shift places financed by UNICEF and UNHCR in Aley; Number of seats opened by the Lebanese government under the "Accelerated learning program" program in Aley. Number of children enrolled in a Lebanese school after reaching grade-level within the Yalla! school Input 2.3 Yalla! reduces the risk of dropout by promoting a smooth transition into the formal education system, including through the organization remedial tutoring (especially in English), in order that Syrian refugee children can integrate into the Lebanese school system. Number of children who attended Yalla! leaving a Lebanese school during the year for reasons other than a family move. Objective 3 The Syrian and Lebanese communities develop positive relationships Indicators Outcome 3.1 Input 3.1 Input 3.2 Input 3.3 Outcome 3.2 Input 3.4 The members of the Joint Teaching team and the Yalla! s Lebanese partners work cooperatively around a unifying project. They learn from each other, moving beyond prejudices and appreciating the cooperation of their partners. The field coordinator recruits a mixed team of Syrian and Lebanese teachers from all social and ethnic-religious backgrounds, adhering to the values of secularism, nonpartisanism, and equality espoused by Yalla! Members of the teaching staff are compensated by Yalla! at 7.50 dollars an hour The field coordinator and school principal supervise and encourage daily cooperation and dialogue between local teachers and external stakeholders and partners Number of recruitment campaigns; Number of CVs received and recruitment interviews with different candidates; Certificates of mutual commitment. Monthly compensation receipts. Feedback from the pedagogic team and its partners during teaming meetings ; individual assessments ; interview ; and coordinator observations during visits Syrian refugee children and children of the Lebanese town of Aley learn about themselves, discover their differences and similarities. They overcome prejudices and learn to live together. Fun activities open to Syrian and Lebanese children residing in Aley are held throughout the schooling year on holidays and run by international Syrian and Lebanese volunteers. The Syrian and Lebanese children discover fun together around sports games and artistic activities. Number of extracurricular sessions organized; Partner and stakeholder feedback from from the field coordinator (team meetings, individual assessments, informal discussions); observations of the field coordinator during his visits.