Tuyoor Al-Amal are proud to run schools in two locations in the area of Badawi, Tripoli. The schools are very close to each other, allowing for economies of scale with personnel and other running costs, as well as joint professional development and inter-school activities. Due to the ongoing economic crisis in Lebanon, and in line with general national practice, each school operates two shifts for four days each week, for eight months of the year. Summer schools, activities and catch-up projects are also offered during the summer months, where funding can be secured.
All of the children are registered with Lebanon's Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and sit for public exams at the appropriate stage.
Each school has its own dedicated Principal, working alongside a team of Supervisors who are responsible for pastoral care, progress and staff support. A Central Team includes Human Resources, Logistics and Finance staff, Health Advisors, Community Liaison Officer and General Director, as well as an Education Advisor who oversees training and development of staff in addition to monitoring of quality and development of materials. Costs of the Central Team are divided across the budgets for the schools.
The schools were founded by Mustafa Al-Haj, a Syrian teacher, alongside a group of concerned Syrian refugees who wished to ensure that they could continue to provide education for the children of their community. The schools are not affiliated to any religious or political group.
The first school started teaching on 9th November, 2013, with the enrollment of 350 children from the Syrian refugee community. The school soon came to be recognized as a valuable part of the community. Its reputation in the community and the importance of the service that it provided led to a rapid expansion. In 2014, the school relocated to allow it to increase pupil numbers to nearly one thousand. The following year, a second school was founded to educate another thousand pupils. In November 2016, a third school opened with seven hundred pupils, focusing on providing morning classes. In October 2017 this third school expanded to add a further 300 students. The schools have continued to develop, including offering to the host Lebanese community.
Together, the schools now serve a total of around 3,200 children each year, from KG right the way through to Grade 12. The staff includes teachers with both Syrian and Lebanese qualifications and are recruited from the Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian communities.
The schools are reliant on external donors who cover much of their costs. Parents who are able to do so make financial support.
As a community-based organisation, at Tuyoor Al-Amal we ask the parents to make a contribution to the running costs of the school where possible. This forms a partnership between families, donors and the school. However, we recognize that individual circumstances and numbers of children in families varies. We therefore have an extensive system of exemptions and reductions to reflect individual need (for example, for orphans, or cases of extreme financial hardship). Currently, around 40% of our children are totally free of cost to parents.
The schools all offer the Lebanese English language curriculum, although some children follow the Lebanese French language path. We focus on general education, offering subjects such as Arabic, Maths, English, Science, Social Studies, History and Geography. There are also classes in Computing, Art, and Physical Education. The students' progress is evaluated on a termly basis and throughout the year. We seek to engage the parents as fully as possible and we encourage them to take an active role in their children's learning. We also provide sessions for parents to help them to support their children.
Where funding allows, the Tuyoor Al Amal Schools continue to function over the summer break. The Summer School allows pupils to raise their attainment in preparation for the next academic year, as well as to provide consistent routine and engagement for children. This is particularly important for children whose domestic or socioeconomic circumstances have impacted on the regularity of their attendance during the ordinary school year. The Summer School also allows us to offer lessons focused on the needs of higher-attaining pupils.
We offer the possibility of a meaningful education to many children living in very difficult circumstances in the area and who cannot enroll in government schools because of a variety of barriers such as transportation problems and expenses, discrimination, language difficulties etc..
All of the children are registered with Lebanon's Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and sit for public exams at the appropriate stage.
Each school has its own dedicated Principal, working alongside a team of Supervisors who are responsible for pastoral care, progress and staff support. A Central Team includes Human Resources, Logistics and Finance staff, Health Advisors, Community Liaison Officer and General Director, as well as an Education Advisor who oversees training and development of staff in addition to monitoring of quality and development of materials. Costs of the Central Team are divided across the budgets for the schools.
The schools were founded by Mustafa Al-Haj, a Syrian teacher, alongside a group of concerned Syrian refugees who wished to ensure that they could continue to provide education for the children of their community. The schools are not affiliated to any religious or political group.
The first school started teaching on 9th November, 2013, with the enrollment of 350 children from the Syrian refugee community. The school soon came to be recognized as a valuable part of the community. Its reputation in the community and the importance of the service that it provided led to a rapid expansion. In 2014, the school relocated to allow it to increase pupil numbers to nearly one thousand. The following year, a second school was founded to educate another thousand pupils. In November 2016, a third school opened with seven hundred pupils, focusing on providing morning classes. In October 2017 this third school expanded to add a further 300 students. The schools have continued to develop, including offering to the host Lebanese community.
Together, the schools now serve a total of around 3,200 children each year, from KG right the way through to Grade 12. The staff includes teachers with both Syrian and Lebanese qualifications and are recruited from the Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian communities.
The schools are reliant on external donors who cover much of their costs. Parents who are able to do so make financial support.
As a community-based organisation, at Tuyoor Al-Amal we ask the parents to make a contribution to the running costs of the school where possible. This forms a partnership between families, donors and the school. However, we recognize that individual circumstances and numbers of children in families varies. We therefore have an extensive system of exemptions and reductions to reflect individual need (for example, for orphans, or cases of extreme financial hardship). Currently, around 40% of our children are totally free of cost to parents.
The schools all offer the Lebanese English language curriculum, although some children follow the Lebanese French language path. We focus on general education, offering subjects such as Arabic, Maths, English, Science, Social Studies, History and Geography. There are also classes in Computing, Art, and Physical Education. The students' progress is evaluated on a termly basis and throughout the year. We seek to engage the parents as fully as possible and we encourage them to take an active role in their children's learning. We also provide sessions for parents to help them to support their children.
Where funding allows, the Tuyoor Al Amal Schools continue to function over the summer break. The Summer School allows pupils to raise their attainment in preparation for the next academic year, as well as to provide consistent routine and engagement for children. This is particularly important for children whose domestic or socioeconomic circumstances have impacted on the regularity of their attendance during the ordinary school year. The Summer School also allows us to offer lessons focused on the needs of higher-attaining pupils.
We offer the possibility of a meaningful education to many children living in very difficult circumstances in the area and who cannot enroll in government schools because of a variety of barriers such as transportation problems and expenses, discrimination, language difficulties etc..
The original site of the Tuyoor Al-Amal School (Birds of Hope) for Syrian Refugee Students (2013-2014)
The first Tuyoor Al Amal School was located in the village of Deir Ammar, north of Tripoli, for its first academic year.
The first Tuyoor Al Amal School was located in the village of Deir Ammar, north of Tripoli, for its first academic year.
The relocated Tuyoor Al-Amal School (Birds of Hope) which opened in 2014.
In order to cater for increased numbers, the first Tuyoor Al Amal School relocated to the Tripoli suburb of Jabbal Al-Baddawi . Starting in 2021, this location is now also home to our third school, which operates on an afternoon 'shift' using the same facilities. It is also now home to our high school students.
In order to cater for increased numbers, the first Tuyoor Al Amal School relocated to the Tripoli suburb of Jabbal Al-Baddawi . Starting in 2021, this location is now also home to our third school, which operates on an afternoon 'shift' using the same facilities. It is also now home to our high school students.
The second Tuyoor Al-Amal School (Birds Of Hope) which opened in 2015.
Due to the success and reputation of the first school, the second Tuyoor Al Amal School was opened in 2015, initially for another thousand pupils. This site is now the main location for Tuyoor Al Amal, with classes running in double shifts, seven days a week.
Due to the success and reputation of the first school, the second Tuyoor Al Amal School was opened in 2015, initially for another thousand pupils. This site is now the main location for Tuyoor Al Amal, with classes running in double shifts, seven days a week.
The third Tuyoor Al-Amal School (Birds Of Hope) which opened in 2016.
The schools' success and expansion continued with the opening of this additional site for a further 1000 pupils. We discontinued use of this site when our third school shared facilities (in an additional 'shift') with our original Al-Baddawi location.
The schools' success and expansion continued with the opening of this additional site for a further 1000 pupils. We discontinued use of this site when our third school shared facilities (in an additional 'shift') with our original Al-Baddawi location.
