Imagine what it means for a young girl to have a safe place to learn, to be with other children like her, when everything else in her life is uncertain. When her family doesn’t know if they will have food on the table tomorrow or if they will ever return to the home they were forced to leave behind because of war.
In Lebanon, despite the end of hostilities, over 125,000 people remain displaced, and hundreds of thousands are struggling to return to their homes. The destruction of houses and essential infrastructure continues to affect those impacted by the conflict, which has left 4,000 dead, 16,000 injured, and over a million people displaced. Social and healthcare services are overwhelmed, and living with so much anxiety and loss has taken a heavy toll on the psychosocial well-being of the population —especially children, who carry the invisible wounds of trauma that can last for years.
In times of crisis, education is more than just learning—it is a lifeline. It brings a sense of normalcy, stability, and hope. For children and youth, access to education in emergencies is as vital as food and medical aid. It provides them with the knowledge and skills to navigate challenges, build resilience, and dream of a future beyond conflict. Ensuring continuous education—whether through formal schooling or alternative learning opportunities—is crucial to rebuilding lives and communities.
35 kilometers from Beirut, at the Hammana School run by the Good Shepherd Sisters, around 400 young students can play and learn in a safe, hospitable and creative environment. Here psychologists and educators work to help children process the trauma of war and displacement, building emotional resilience and coping mechanisms. Through games that foster cognitive and social development, interactive classes and tailored interventions for kids with learning difficulties, the schools ensures that every student receives the support they need to access quality and uninterrupted learning, even in the most challenging circumstances.
Nahed, an educator and teacher at the Hammana school, got to a firsthand look at the transformative power of education. In a country where 60% of public schools have been turned into shelters and around 400 schools remain closed for safety reasons, she has witnessed how education helps children heal, rebuild and move forward:
Education saves lives in crisis. When everything around children falls apart, a classroom becomes more than just a room – it’s a place of hope and healing. These children aren’t just surviving. They’re learning to rebuild. Every lesson is a small victory against trauma. We’re not just teaching math or reading; we’re showing them that their dreams still matter, despite the noise of the bombs that they hear from a certain distance. In the middle of chaos, a simple story or a math problem can restore a child’s sense of normal. Learning becomes a way of saying: “You are more than this moment. You have a future.” Education is our most powerful tool. It doesn’t just teach – it heals. It doesn’t just inform – it protects.
An emergency should never strip children of their fundamental rights, yet it happens far too often. The interventions of the Good Shepherd Sisters bring a sense of hope to Lebanese children who have been unjustly deprived of their right to learn for months. Education not only empowers them to rebuild their lives, but also the future of their country. In a world facing an alarming increase in conflicts, natural disasters and crises, GSIF reaffirms its commitment to supporting its partners on the ground to protect and promote the right to education and empower children in Lebanon and beyond, with the skills and knowledge needed to shape a better tomorrow.
