Education is Hope for Syria's Youth

Last year, the Wesleyan Refugee Project (WRP) and LaunchGood raised over $16,000 for a full scholarship to send two Syrian refugee students from Za'atari camp to Zarqa University in Jordan through the Jusoor-Amal Scholarship Fund. This year, we hope to send another student to college with your help!  $4,000 covers the expenses for one year of university – which includes registration, tuition, school supplies, textbooks, transportation, and a living stipend.

(Yasin--on the left, and Nawar--on the right, were both of last year's scholarship recipients)

Check out last year's successful LaunchGood campaign, "Send a Refugee Student from Za'atari Camp to College", by clicking on the hyperlink.

Last Year's Scholarship Recipients

“When you’re forced to flee, it’s so painful. I can’t express the words of how much it hurts to leave your home. Home means so much. It was all taken from us" (Nawar, quoted from UNHCR Jordan)

In spite of everything she has lost, Nawar is an active member within her community. In Za'atari Refugee Camp, she is a coach for UNHCR Jordan's TIGER program, mentoring young Syrian girls. She also works hard to provide psycho-social support for children within the camp. 

The video featured above shows Nawar in the TIGER Girls program. 

In the process of selecting our sponsored students, the Amal Foundation met countless inspiring Syrian youth who, in the hardest of circumstances, are working to improve the lives of those around them. They seek higher education in order to better serve their community today and rebuild Syria in the future.

The Syrian students are currently partnered with the Wesleyan Refugee Project and the larger Wesleyan community through a virtual cultural exchange. This partnership has increased intercultural understanding by building a bridge between American university students and Syrian refugees. The students have access to other educational resources, such as mentoring and academic tutoring, through the Amal Foundation’s student support program.

(Here is Cole Phillips--one of the founders of the Wesleyan Refugee Project, with Yasin and Nawar)

Cole is a student mentor, providing logistical support to the students, such as the registration process. He also tutors Nawar in English since she is studying English Language at Zarqa University. As both a recent college graduate and someone who is currently nearby to the students, Cole acts as a resource to help and advise Nawar and Yasin if any issues arise. 

About The Wesleyan Refugee Project (WRP)

This student organization was started at Wesleyan University in the Fall of 2015. We are a passionate group of Wesleyan students volunteering, advocating, fundraising, and raising awareness of current refugee crises. We also work with a number of international and local nonprofit organizations, assisting in areas such as tutoring, legal aid and refugee resettlement, to name a few. Visit and like our Facebook page to learn more about us, as well as keep up with our events and future happenings. Also check out our new website at WesleyanRefugeeProject.org! 

About The Amal Foundation

The Amal Foundation Inc. is a registered 501c3 non profit dedicated to helping refugees access education. The Amal Foundation seeks to bring Amal, the Arabic word for hope, to refugees and their host communities by supporting youth to access education and realize their potential. The Foundation’s signature project is the Amal-Jusoor Scholarship Fund, which mobilizes U.S. college students to stand in solidarity with refugees while providing university scholarships for Syrian refugees in Jordan. Follow The Amal Foundation on their Facebook page to learn more and get involved.

(Image Credit: The Syrian Youth Committee)