Eager to learn
Ribah is 14 and wants to become a chef in the future. Maysa is 12 and dreams of becoming a school principal. Normal dreams for children about their future. But going to school is not at all normal for these two. Their family fled the crisis in Syria and now lives in Lebanon.
Rabih and Maysa are brother and sister. Their father died in Syria when they were still very young. The early loss of their family's pillar had a profound impact on the children. Their mother was especially fearing her children’s chances of education.
Rabih and Maysa already went to primary school in Syria, but they showed little interest. According to their mother, the children felt insecure. Rabih often ran away from school to be with his mother.
In 2014, the family fled to Lebanon under difficult circumstances. One of the many challenges the children faced was that they were unable to attend school for several years.
Since April 2021, Maysa and Rabih have resumed their education, thanks to the Back to the Future project. In Arsal they get lessons to master the basics in numeracy and literacy. Due to the Covid-19 measures, they follow distance education, via their mother's mobile phone with a special internet bundle provided by the project.
Within months, the siblings were able to recognise and read all the letters of the alphabet. Their speaking and writing skills also improved. More importantly, Rabih and Maysa have become eager to learn. According to their teacher, both children are making great progress and their motivation has visibly increased. They are enthusiastic students who participate in the lessons and hand in their assignments without any delay.
This is a great relief for Rabih and Maysa's mother. She is very proud of the educational achievements of her children. "I am so happy and proud that Maysa and Rabih, despite the loss of their father and our departure from Syria, are now motivated for school."
Back to the Future is funded by the European Union in Lebanon, through the EU's Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, the EU Madad Fund, and is implemented in partnership by AVSI Middle East, Terre des Hommes Italy in Lebanon and War Child Holland in Lebanon.