Project Overview

Islamic Relief is working to improve the living standards of poor Palestinians, many of whom live in refugee camps.

The Gaza Strip alone contains eight refugee camps with large populations and high rates of poverty.

IR Palestine established an education enhancement centre in Jabalia Refugee Camp in 2002. The center aims to enhance the educational level of children and to provide resources lacking in schools. It also helps to integrate disabled children into society.

Problem / Project Background

Palestinian refugee camps house people who have been displaced from their homes. The camps have become terribly overcrowded, with inadequate infrastructure including education facilities.

Jabalia Refugee Camp is one of the most crowded camps. Many schools have to operate on three shifts due to the shortage of schools. Each class consists of 45 pupils and only one teacher.

This situation has severely damaged the learning process. There are no facilities in Jabalia Refugee Camp where children can go for recreational and educational purposes, leaving children to spend most of their time on the streets after school.

A survey carried out by UNRWA in the area showed that:

• 71% of the children do not have access to libraries
  
  
• 74% of the children do not have access to recreational facilities
  
  
• 51% of the children do not know how to use computers

In order to address these problems Islamic Relief, together with the EC and a local partner, established an educational enhancement centre. It provides interesting, fun and educational activities for the deprived children growing up in the camps.

Project Objectives
Poverty reduction through improved educational opportunities.

Project Activities
1. Providing computer training which can be recreational & educational through computer games, CDs and access to the internet.

2. Providing a library of English and Arabic books, audio and video materials.

3. Providing a bank of quality toys and indoor games, which will enrich children's recreation time.

4. Providing supplementary classes in English, Arabic and Mathematics.

5. Help integrate disabled children into society by providing support to injured and traumatized children.

Project Goal
To provide disadvantaged children including disabled children with skills and opportunities.

Beneficiaries
The target group is children under the age of 18, of whom there are an estimated 60,000 in Jabalia Refugee Camp.

It is estimated that the centre will build a membership of around 1,000 in the first year and 3000 in subsequent years, although potential demand is likely to be much higher.