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MISSION
To create a safe and secure environment for all girls at Zaatari Refugee Camp.
VISION
To unite all girls at Zaatari Refugee Camp through the development of a learning space, where girls will be able to feel empowered, safe and secure within the environment. This learning space will give girls the opportunity to grow, develop and transform into the best version of themselves.
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Welcome to EMPOWER- a learning space that brings all girls from Zaatari refugee camp together.
Unfortunately, not every girl at Zaatari refugee camp has the privilege of attending school. Sometimes this can be due to language barriers, family beliefs or not having enough documentation to be enrolled. For these girls who are unable to attend, they are instead forced into child labour, having to work for long periods of time, to support their family. For the girls (and boys) who have the opportunity to attend school, often, they struggle to keep up with what is being taught. Majority of the girls have previously missed out on years of schooling and as a result, are unable to understand what is being taught. This issue has been going on for years and unfortunately, there is not enough funding and resources available to help these girls (and boys) develop necessary knowledge and skills. Along with this, schools at the refugee camp run on a double-shift system. Some of the schools teach the girls for 3 hours in the morning, followed by teaching boys for 3 hours in the afternoon. Similarly, other schools at the camp have different cohorts of children attending in either the morning or afternoon sessions. Due to this double-shift system, it can be a great challenge for the girls (and boys) to learn an excessive amount of content within 3 hours. Some of the girls at the camp have also been subjected to abuse and harassment on their way to school. As a result, these girls’ families are removing them from school, forcing them to work, or even get married from young to ease the family financial pressures.
EMPOWER, the learning space has been created for girls and works in conjunction with the Teachers Without Boarders organisation. EMPOWER has been designed with the aim to unite all girls from Zaatari, including the girls who attend school, and the girls who do not. EMPOWER will focus on assisting girls in developing their well being and educating them on their interpersonal relationships and feelings, as well as nutrition and physical activity. The teachers at EMPOWER will be not considered as teachers to the girls, but rather friends. The space will be friendly and open, and girls will feel safe and secure in the environment. EMPOWER will be divided into two, with an emphasis on the personal learning space and e-space in one room, and an emphasis on the classroom and the school and group, collaborative and cooperative learning in the other two rooms.
Room 1: Personal learning space / E-space-
Due to their living conditions, the girls often don’t have time, or a appropriate space to unwind and reflect. As a result, we have decided to create this room for the girls, where they can do just that.
This space is the smallest out of three in EMPOWER and is an independent and flexible space, where the girls have the opportunity to visit at any time of the day.
Before entering this space, every girl will be given a ‘structured diary’. This diary will give girls the opportunity to write down their thoughts or worries, reflect on life or their learning, as well as set goals. Communal iPad’s, which have been donated by Apple, will be present in this room. On the iPad’s, girls have the opportunity to participate in a range of tasks such as;
- Silent meditation – this task involves students plugging a set of earphones into the iPad and visiting an app called Smiling Mind. Through this task, girls will have the opportunity to emotionally grow and learn how to respond to their feelings. This task will also prompt the girls to reflect on their learning and their life. Following on from this task, the girls will be encouraged to write in their diary.
- Individual learning – this task gives the girls the opportunity to extend their knowledge and understanding on nutrition and physical activity- learnt in Room 2 & 3. Individual learning time is flexible and the girls will also have the opportunity to present their findings to the rest of the girls.
Room 2 & 3: Classroom & the school/ group, collaborative & cooperative learning-
Previously, girls at Zaatari have never had the opportunity to learn about wellbeing, specifically making correct personal health choices, as well as the importance of adopting an active lifestyle. At Zaatari, there is only access to basic foods, such as fruit, vegetables and grains. As a result, we want EMPOWER to educate the girls on nutrition and the benefits involved when making healthy food choices. Just the same, there is no sport equipment available for girls, where they can participate in physical activity. We do not want these girls to miss out on the opportunity of getting active, participating in a variety of sports and learning the benefits of physical activity. Majority of these girls have gone through and are currently undergoing traumatic events in their daily life. Physical activity is associated with multiple benefits, and we want these girls to ‘sweat it out and soak up the benefits’.
By participating in physical activity, the girls can;
- reduce stress
- boost their energy
- reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression
- increase self-esteem
Room 2 will be where all learning takes place, and will be designed as an open learning space, where girls will be able to feel free and comfortable. In this space, girls will learn about nutrition and making healthy choices. Girls will become aware of the healthy food pyramid and will also have the opportunity to grow some vegetables in the garden, where they will be able to learn and observe the growing of food. Room 3, will be where all physical activity takes places. The girls will be introduced to a great range of sports, from yoga, to ball games, to boxing and cardio. Hart Sport has donated all sports equipment for this space. Girls will be placed in groups and will rotate daily between room 2 and 3. We have decided to place the girls into groups, to give them the opportunity to get to know each other, practice their social skills and team bond.
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