Apply Today
Deadline: March 27, 2023
PROJECT SHINE Dates
- Volunteer Arrival: 3 July 2023
- Volunteer Orientation: 4-9 July 2023
- Project Dates: 10 July – 12 August 2023 (TBC)
ABOUT LEAP
Learning for the Empowerment and Advancement of Palestinians (LEAP) is an educational empowerment program for Palestinian, and more recently Syrian, refugee youth in Lebanon. LEAP is dedicated to nurturing the intellectual growth and creative curiosity of young people by encouraging them to become agents of change through supporting their educational pursuits during their most formative years.
We aim to illuminate the plight of Palestine refugees, particularly in Lebanon, through volunteer-run educational projects. Simultaneously, we seek to provide a rich cultural exchange for our volunteers with the goal of deepening their understanding of the plight of Palestine refugees and bring this back to their home communities.
Learn more…
PROJECT SHINE – SUMMER HELP IN ENGLISH
Only one-third of refugee students enrolled in first grade at UNRWA schools complete their high school education. This is partially due to low pass rates on the Brevét, the Lebanese high school entrance exam. The exam is administered in English and Palestine refugee students, with less access to English education, fail in higher proportion than their Lebanese peers.
Project SHINE provides an intensive summer English language project to prepare students for the Brevet examination, strengthen their English proficiency, and provide a space for intellectual and recreational activities to change the mundane routine of camp life during the summer. LEAP is recruiting volunteers to provide English language instruction and other recreational enrichment activities (such as theater, dance, film, yoga, and creative writing), while working in the camps. Students get the opportunity to attend weekly field trips, which is an important way for them to gain new experiences and associate learning with a fun, positive environment.
Apply for Project SHINE here…
MUTUAL EXCHANGE
LEAP volunteers learn about the Palestine refugee reality, particularly in Lebanon, where the situation for refugees is dire, and even more so in recent years after the Syria crisis and the political and economic deterioration of the country. Volunteers and students share a mutual learning experience. Volunteers are expected to raise awareness about the plight of Palestine refugees and amplify their voices upon return to their home communities.
LEAP EXPECTATIONS
LEAP seeks dynamic, compassionate, and motivated volunteers who enjoy working with young adults, value the right to quality education, believe in refugee rights, have a passion for social justice, maintain respect and diplomacy in their interactions with people of different backgrounds, and who are capable of working under challenging circumstances.
Volunteers must be prepared to work in small classrooms with sporadic electricity, extreme heat, and limited classroom resources. Volunteers must also be able to endure difficult living conditions such as cramped, crowded, and uncomfortable apartments, as well as extreme heat and discomfort. Most importantly, LEAP volunteers must be culturally sensitive and considerate of local norms. Candidates must behave maturely, conservatively, and respectfully at all times during the program as they are both representatives of LEAP and by extension, our partner organization.
Volunteers must demonstrate experience in one or more of the following: work or knowledge of the MENA region; Arabic language skills; teaching English as a new language; work in tutoring, after-school programs, or camps; advocacy work; management and coordination; working abroad; and/or psychosocial support.
We strongly encourage interested applicants to apply. This is a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the Palestine refugee reality in Lebanon. The Program has consistently been described as a meaningful, purposeful, and unforgettable experience for youth and volunteers alike. We hope that you will join our team!
GET INVOLVED
To apply to Project SHINE, please complete the online application before the deadline on
27 March 2023. Apply today!
To learn more, support our projects and/or partner with us, please visit
the LEAP website.
Contact: info@leap-program.org 