In June of 2018, 14 Youth Committee members, along with 4 organizers/chaperones, traveled to Jordan to work at Camp Za’atari. This exchange took several months to plan. Each one of our students was paired with 2 Syrian peers. Our volunteers (Students as well as organizers/ chaperones) have always paid for own their trip although we have made scholarships available as well.  

Our 14 American students spent 5 spectacular days engaging with 28 Syrian teens on many levels. Our students:

• Developed curriculum for English instruction for Syrian students, as well as Arabic instruction for American students;
• Carried out science, music, art, photography and sports classes over 4 days for students
• Applied and secured special permission to take their Syrian peers to a nature hike outing for the day;
• Held a closing ceremony for teachers and Syrian family members and performed “We Are The Champions”;
• Raised and purchased $15,000 worth of sports equipment and school materials for the school at Camp Za’atari;
• Purchased and distributed $12,000 worth of running shoes to the students at Camp Za’atari and Camp Azraq (outside of Amman as well);
• Developed peer-to-peer projects for teens to engage with their Syrian counterparts at the Social Innovation Labs (SILs); and,
• Produced a documentary of their time together (see below).