Za’atari Refugee Camp, Jordan 24 January 2014
It is estimated that 35 per cent of the Syrian refugees in host communities in Jordan are school-aged children who are now attending Jordanian public schools. This has placed tremendous pressure on the Jordanian education system which, prior to the refugee crisis, was already facing limited resources and capacity.
The Government of Canada is committed to helping address the needs of those adversely impacted by the Syrian crisis. To this end, on January 24, 2014, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the Learning Empowerment and Play project, with the support of $5 million for children living in Jordanian communities most affected by the Syrian conflict.
Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development Canada’s Learning, Empowerment and Play (LEAP) project will focus on:
- rehabilitating classrooms, sanitation facilities, and play spaces;
- providing education support to child refugees and Jordanian children and youth through the training of more than 1,500 teachers and coaches, using an innovative play-based learning methodology;
- improving the learning environment for participating children and youth;
- increasing child and youth participation in leadership roles within school and community settings; and,
- fostering the increased use of Sport for Development by civil society and municipalities to contribute to national development objectives.
The project is being undertaken in partnership with Right To Play, an international organization that uses the transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity. Right To Play will use its innovative play-based learning methodology to train teachers and coaches to effectively use various techniques aimed at helping children and youth succeed, creating a fun educational environment and achieving learning outcomes.
Right To Play helps one million children weekly in more than 20 countries to build essential life skills and better futures, while driving lasting social change. Founded in 2000 by four-time Olympic gold medalist and social entrepreneur Johann Olav Koss, Right To Play is a non-profit organization that maintains its headquarters in Toronto.
Support for this project is part of the $75 million for development in Jordan that was announced by John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on June 16, 2013.
