LEB Ghassan Kanafani Cultural Foundation (GKCF) Support to Centers in Palestine Refugee Camps – BNS & PRO

Project completed

Palestine Refugees have no access to public schools in Lebanon. UNRWA runs 69 schools and 2 vocational education centers that cannot meet all the needs of an increasingly young population. Non-profits play a key role in complementing UNRWA’s services, particularly in early childhood. Further, many schools lack the necessary infrastructure, equipment and staff to support children with special needs. The main objective of the project is to improve the lives of Palestine Refugee (and other nationality) children and integrate those with disabilities in the regular education system.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Lebanon
Education
Basic life skills
01.04.2016 - 31.05.2019
CHF  675’000
Background

Basic services, especially in education, remain widely inaccessible in Palestine Refugee camps. UNRWA does not provide habilitation services to children with disabilities and its schools only admit children above the age of 6 while preschools are managed by non-profit organizations which cover 9,100 children leaving more than half of the preschool-age population with no access.

Objectives

To improve the capacity of and empower Palestine refugee (and other nationality) children including disabled children and youth to develop, learn and participate more effectively in society through educational, cultural, economic and social opportunities.

Target groups

1,858 Palestine Refugee Children and Youth (47% Males, 53% Females)

119 Palestine and Syrian Refugee and Lebanese Children with Disability (61% Males, 39% Females)

119 Families of children with disabilities - average family 6 members (10% Males, 90% Females)

Medium-term outcomes
  1. Improve Palestine refugee children’s capacity to develop and learn in highly educational, interactive and safe environments
  2. Empower Palestine refugee (and other nationality) children and youth with disabilities to function and participate more effectively in society
  3. Empower families of children with disabilities to enagage more effectively in the well-being of their children
Results

Expected results:  

  • Educational, emotional, physical and social skill-building to 571 children at 6 Kindergartens located in the North (Bidawi and Naher Al Bared), Beirut (Mar Elias), Southern Suburb (Bourj Al Barajneh), and the South (Ain Al Helweh and Al Rashidiyeh)

  • Educational, artistic, media and literary activities in 3 libraries, located in three major camps: Ain Al Helweh in the South, Bidawi and Naher Al Bared in the North, targeting around 741 children between the ages of 3 to 18 years

  • Daily Club and summer activities reaching around 546 children between the ages of 7 to 15 years through educational, leisure and artistic activities
  • Disability programme:

119 children benefit from special education, physical/occupational/speech/drama/dance movement therapy, and psychotherapy

Provide 150 assistive devices manufactured annually through GKCF’s Occupational Therapy Workshop

70 professionals serving in different camps and Lebanese communities receive training on different disability-related disciplines

119 families targeted with awarenessand education, home caring techniques, counselling, home adaptation, and health care


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Humanitarian aid
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
Private sector
  • Foreign private sector South/East


Other partners

Contributors and donors: CTM Onlus- Italy, Welfare Association- Ramallah, Danish Church Aid- Denmark, GKCF France-France, Asfari Foundation- Britain, Medical Aid For Palestinians- Britain, and private sponsors

Coordination with other projects and actors

SDC supports diverse partners including UNRWA (through the General Fund and bilateral projects), UNDP for basic services in the Gatherings and LPDC for policy dialogue to promote rights and better living conditions for Palestine refugees. SDC also supports TdH Lausanne which focuses on child protection for Palestine Refugees in Saida and Tyr region. UNRWA and GKCF work jointly to ensure that all children in the mainstreamed GKCF Kindergartens and where possible, children with disabilities, are later admitted in UNRWA schools. UNRWA also transfers children to GKCF for treatment, assessment or enrolment.

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    675’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    615’831 Total project since first phase Budget inclusive project partner CHF   675’000
Project phases

Phase 1 01.04.2016 - 31.05.2019   (Completed)