Luminos in Lebanon

The war in Syria has wrought immense suffering on children and their families, with more than 13 million people displaced from their homes. Almost one quarter of Lebanon’s population is now estimated to be Syrian refugees, with 30% of school-aged refugee children having never been to school.

While the Lebanese government has taken the extraordinary step of committing to enroll all Syrian refugee children in their public school system, there are still numerous barriers to access education.

In Lebanon, Luminos is working with community-based organizations to support children —both academically and emotionally— so they can catch up to grade level in safe, welcoming classrooms and prepare to advance into Lebanese government schools.

Classrooms are full of joy, resilience, kindness, and warmth and provide a safe space for students to explore and cultivate their potential.

To date, Luminos has helped 7,080 children achieve foundational learning and continue on the path to opportunity.

991,917

Registered refugees in Lebanon

546,546

Registered refugees under the age of 18

500,000

Estimated unregistered refugees

60%

Registered out-of-school refugees

Barriers to Learning

Child Labor

Being forced to work / Working

Refugee status

Fleeing conflict

Learning environment

Struggling to learn

Poverty

Being poor

Our Approach

Building on our experience with out-of-school children, Luminos developed a Back to School program to help refugee children restart their education. Many students have been out of school for years, and all of them are learning in English and French for the first time, the standard languages of instruction in Lebanon. The Back to School program is an opportunity for refugees to catch up to grade level and prepare to assimilate into Lebanese classrooms. As part of the curriculum, our students create drawings to remember their homeland and to begin to come to terms with the trauma they have seen. Our program continues to support refugees after they transition into Lebanese schools—both academically and emotionally—and advocates on their behalf when discrimination and poverty pose barriers.

“I have never been to school before. This is my first time. I never miss a day.”

Meet Yasmin

“In a context like Lebanon, where Syrian children and their parents are battling daily struggles, Luminos’ classrooms are often the only form of stability and safety that our students know. Most importantly, it is a space where our students can truly be children – where they can learn, play, laugh, and dream.”

Angie Thadani, Senior Director of Programs

7,080

Children reached with Back-to-School programs

445

Teachers trained

43%

Of students are girls

9.5

Average student age

Cumulative Program Results

Community Partners

In Lebanon, Luminos works with the government and the following community-based organizations:

Ana Aqra Association
Basmeh & Zeitooneh
The Red Pencil Humanitarian Mission

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The Luminos Fund is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt charitable organization registered in the United States (EIN 36-4817073).