A girl looking through a window.

Bringing Education to Syrian Refugee Children in North Lebanon

World Refugee Day 2025

In the remote Akkar region of northern Lebanon, hope arrives each week, not in grand gestures, but in boxes, worksheets, and games made from Lego bricks. 

This corner of the country is home to around 99,000 Syrian refugees, scattered across hundreds of makeshift settlements. For families who fled war, the idea of returning still feels too dangerous. So, they stay, building lives as best they can in tents that flood with rain and freeze in the winter. 

War Child, working with local partner Akkar Network for Development, is bringing education directly into these settlements, nine of them, plus one learning centre, offering children not just lessons, but a lifeline. 

A group of boys walking through a refugee camp in Syria.
Photo taken by Sharron Lovell

“You can sense that the kids really want to learn and the parents really push them to engage,” says Yara, a facilitator from Akkar Network for Development. “Most of the parents are illiterate so they really encourage their children to learn. They themselves also want to learn.” 

It starts with the basics: materials sent via WhatsApp, homework downloaded in advance to families with limited phone data, and weekly visits to build trust. Slowly, the sessions become more regular, three to four days a week, with a dedicated classroom space offering structure and consistency. 

A child looking up and smiling

War Child’s Education Advisor, Julie, describes one of the ways they bring learning to life: 

“In one of the sessions, we use Lego blocks for a communication exercise. The children work in pairs, with one taking on the role of the communicator and the other as the listener... At the end, they compare their finished structures to see how closely they match. 

“Unsurprisingly with children, the structures don’t turn out the same, but the activity helps to demonstrate the importance of both communication and listening in understanding others.” 

Another favourite? The tower-building challenge. “To succeed, they must work together as a group to find solutions, strengthen the foundation, and collaborate,” Julie adds. 

But it’s not just about academic learning. Each session begins with a check-in. Children stand in a circle, share how they’re feeling, and are reminded that support is always available. Lessons often include themes, like trees, to help children process emotions and find calm. 

A member of War Child staff with children at a camp in Syria.
Photo taken by Sharron Lovell

Psychosocial support is at the heart of this work, giving children tools not only to learn but to heal. 

And while the older children have access to these opportunities, plans are underway to introduce early childhood education for 5 to 9-year-olds, an urgent next step. 

The impact of this work is clear. Children grow in confidence, learn to express themselves, gain essential skills in literacy and numeracy, and start to believe in a brighter future. 

Every child deserves that chance. And in the refugee camps of Akkar, it’s being made possible, one lesson, one Lego block, and one hopeful step at a time. 

Syria

Syria has faced nearly 14 years of civil war, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis. Since 2012, War Child has partnered with local organisations to support young people affected by conflict.

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