In Lebanon, school resumed on November 4 as best it could in public establishments, despite the war. In the Hamra district of Beirut, a school that has been closed for several years serves as a place of welcome for displaced families. And their children benefit from lessons, taught by volunteers.
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With our special correspondents in Beirut, Murielle Paradon And Julien Boileau
In the basement of a school that welcomes displaced people, children aged 10 to 13 sit in circles on plastic chairs. They take an English class, plunged in the dark, there is no electricity that day. But they don’t seem to pay attention to it. Ahlam, a teacher for 25 years, is herself a refugee, she comes from the south ofLebanon.
“ Since we arrived here, we thought about doing something for the children because they are stressed “, explains the professor. “ It’s very important, the children have forgotten everything. Some who come from the south have not had school for a year. »
Psychologically affected children
Some children are also psychologically affected by the war, Yara, another teacher who lives in Beirut, tells us.
“ One of these children was very aggressive. I asked him why he hit his neighbor. He remained silent. But if you look hard enough, you can find out why. I hope that with time he will grow out of it. », she wishes.
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“ This group is like a little family »
The lessons taught with the means at hand are also an opportunity for the children to be able to exchange ideas, as Sarah, another teacher, explains. “ We developed very emotional bonds with them. This group is like a little family. They are happy to come and want to learn. This is what motivates us to come every day », says Sarah.
Like her colleagues, Sarah is a volunteer, she says she fears the moment when she will have to leave these students, to whom she has become attached. But that will be once the war is over.
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