Over a million Syrian school-age students are stranded as refugees in border camps in Lebanon and Jordan. In Lebanon alone, more than 100,000 kids remain unschooled. CGE faculty and colleagues are assisting with a school near the Syrian border where over 200 students are in daily morning or afternoon classes.
To meet the needs of more students, plans are to open 2 more “tent schools” closer to the tent areas. CGE will raise awareness in an early November 2016 trip for international directors, faculty, teachers, and colleagues to visit a Christian university, high schools, this refugee school, and future tent schools. Although teaching and learning are primary, other items are needed such as food, fuel and winterizing preparations that allow the tent families to support their kids going to school.
CGE visited one tent family of 3 adults and 9 children and heard relief in the adult voices that their kids finally found a school to attend. This family fled Syria and would have been killed after ISIS entered their city.
As the mother kindly offered us tea, we noticed the four walls made of heavy plastic on the outside and a patchwork of billboard sign materials and scavenged rugs and bedspreads on the inside.
In America we often make quilts to show as symbols of hope given to someone special. Their patchwork walls reminded us of jumbled colors of survival representing hope amidst chaos.
Hope has returned to hundreds of families as their kids are now safe and in school. One voiced that if the kids can thrive during this hardship - the family will survive.
Contact CGE to GO with us or to GIVE toward this relief effort. Email info@cgedu.org to sign up for the November trip or call 770-321-4897 and ask for Michelle.
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