Game-based Arabic Lessons Brought to Syrian Refugees in Jordan by Libraries Without Borders and eduTechnoz

DOHA, Qatar, June 20, 2016 /CNW/ - The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), the leading global initiative driving innovation and collaboration in education, has recently facilitated collaboration between Libraries Without Borders and eduTechnoz - two organisations supported by the WISE Accelerator, which is aimed at education start-ups and projects scaling up their services - which resulted in a collaboration that helps Syrian children in Jordan benefit from Arabic lessons.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160617/380724 )

Libraries Without Borders developed the Ideas Box, a portable multi-media toolkit facilitating and strengthening access to non-formal education for vulnerable communities such as refugees. eduTechnoz offers game-based educational online resources for children to learn Arabic. The two organisations joined forces to provide technologically innovative materials for Syrian children in Jordan to learn Arabic and gain literacy skills.

Two Ideas Boxes with eduTechnoz resources have been deployed in Jordan: one in Azraq refugee camp and one in a community center in Hashmi Shimali, Amman. Since the end of March 2016, children aged 6-10 can access eduTechnoz educational content, monitor progress and collect badges through the Ideas Box.

Long-term emergencies, such as the Syrian civil war, put the education of entire generations in danger, diminishing human capital that is crucial to rebuilding a war-torn country. In addition, children who experience violence and uncertainty at a young age must be given the means to obtain a sense of normality and happiness in their lives. For these reasons, innovative, game-based education caters to both the educational and emotional needs of refugee children.

eduTechnoz and Libraries Without Borders decided to work together after their representatives met within the framework of the WISE Accelerator, a program offering opportunities for innovative education projects to scale-up and extend their services and in which both organisations participated.

Giving children, especially those living in refugee camps or war zones, an opportunity to learn Arabic has been a priority for eduTechnoz, but the organisation has faced challenges in providing proper tablets and reliable Internet connection. Partnering with Libraries Without Borders was a unique chance to bring children tangible education opportunities and to better serve disadvantaged and vulnerable children in Jordanian refugee camps and eventually elsewhere in the region. This partnership allowed combining innovative Arab learning pedagogy of eduTechnoz with access to the latest technologies available on the education market provided by Ideas Box.

The WISE Accelerator facilitated this networking opportunity that resulted in a project generating a meaningful impact for the most vulnerable children in need of help in the refugee camps.

"This partnership would not be possible if it was not for the Accelerator program organized by WISE. Thanks to such an opportunity, eduTechnoz and Libraries Without borders found a way to combine their expertise and learn from each other through building a collaboration that will support Syrian refugee children's educational experience," said Ms Diana Al-Dajani, the founder and CEO of eduTechnoz.

"Quality contents are key if the Ideas Box is to reach its goal: improve access to education for vulnerable people. The partnership between Libraries Without Borders and eduTechnoz means more relevance and efficiency in supporting Syrian refugee children," said Mr Jérémy Lachal, Libraries Without Borders general director.

For further information about:
WISE, visit http://www.wise-qatar.org
WISE Accelerator, visit http://www.wise-qatar.org/wise-accelerator
eduTechnoz, visit http://www.edutechnoz.com
Ideas Box, visit http://www.ideas-box.org

SOURCE WISE