Dear Supporters, 

This is our first official newsletter as The Azraq Education and Community Fund (AECF) (formerly The Syria Fund)! We've launched our new website, updated our Instagram, and are excited to share our logo transformation, melding the original TSF logo with The Azraq Center's logo (designed by one of our students!):

Although our name changed, there are no changes to our leadership, local team, or Board of Directors - we are the same non-profit you’ve come to know! This new name reflects our commitment to be more inclusive in the community we serve, strengthen our ties to the town of Azraq, and strategically move forward into the future!

In other news, we're getting back to business in Azraq! Thankfully, Covid cases are extremely low in Jordan and our teachers are back at the Center, keeping students busy with at-home worksheets, small group activities, and more!

Distance Activities & Mobile Library

From worksheets to art activities and story writing, our teachers bring their creative spirit to each kid at home with distance learning activities, delivered right to their door. As part of these efforts, we recently launched a Mobile Library Program, creating a system to distribute books from our center’s library to kids at home in a hygienic and efficient way! 

Hygiene Workshop with World Vision

In partnership with World Vision and Nachmyat Eastern Badia Cooperative, students completed a multi-session remote hygiene workshop. Sessions focused on hand washing, general hygiene, and how to protect ourselves from Covid-19. Students received multiple distributions of soap and hand sanitizer as part of the program. 

Art and Yoga with Amanda and Asil

As we begin to meet in person again with small groups, art teacher Asil and volunteer Amanda are hosting yoga, art, and empowerment activities with a group of teenage girls. 

Asil completed a pottery workshop where students transformed their feelings about quarantine into clay, shaping them into a tangible object. 

From cat-cow poses to intentional breathing, Amanda, a certified yoga instructor, is aiming to empower the girls and help them find space to clear their minds and stretch out in yoga and meditation class!

Become a Monthly Donor!

The best way that you can support our efforts at AECF is to become a monthly donor! Consider setting up a recurring donation to provide ongoing education and enrichment to our 245 Syrian students and support our local team of teachers and staff! 

Keep looking out for more updates from us as we continue to build out our new website and social media accounts!

Thank you, as always, for your support! 

Warmly and with gratitude,

Lexi Shereshewsky
Executive Director, The Azraq Education and Community Fund

The Syria Fund is becoming The Azraq Education and Community Fund - read on to learn more!

Dear Supporters,

This week is Refugee Week and we are reflecting on five incredible years of efforts and impact at The Syria Fund. We have an exciting announcement that we’re eager to share with you!

When we started our organization five years ago, we committed to bring communities together, to stand with refugees, and to make a difference for those most impacted by the war in Syria. 

We learned so much as we grew from a group of volunteers meeting at a dining room table in the US to a registered organization with a team on the ground in Jordan and a close connection to the community we serve. Through amazing partnerships and the experience we gained over the years, we focused our efforts on the remote and rural town of South Azraq, Jordan - where nearly HALF the population are refugees - and built our flagship program, The Azraq Center.

What started as just two classrooms and a mission to get Syrian children back in school has grown into a thriving center and community hub with over 20 local team members serving more than 240 students, from ages 3+, on a daily basis. Our commitment to this underserved town extends to the wider community - as we expand our programming into adult education and literacy, high school test prep, increased humanitarian assistance for those most in need, and more. 

This Refugee Week, we are excited to share that we’ve made the decision to deepen our commitment to the community of Azraq and move towards a more community-based approach with a long-term, strategic vision for the future. 

Part of this direction includes changing our name, The Syria Fund, to better reflect our mission, programs, and commitment to the entire community of Azraq - both Syrian and Jordanian. One of the most important lessons we have learned is that the best way to help refugee communities is to also support the host communities where they live. So with that, we’d like to introduce you to our NEW NAME:

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The Azraq Education and Community Fund (AECF)

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Our name is changing but there will be no changes to our leadership, local team, or Board of Directors - we are the same non-profit you’ve come to know! The new name reflects our commitment to be more inclusive in the community we serve, strengthen our ties to the town of Azraq, and strategically move forward into the future!

In the coming days and weeks, we’ll be updating our website, social media, logo and more. Look out for more on that! 

We are deeply grateful for your support over the years and we look forward to continuing to show you the impact of your contributions, as we deliver critical educational and social programs for Syrian refugees and other vulnerable families in Azraq! Thank you, as always, for making our work possible!

Warmly and with gratitude,

Lexi Shereshewsky
Executive Director, The Syria Fund / The Azraq Education and Community Fund

Dear TSF Community, 

We hope that you are all staying healthy and safe during these unprecedented times. Since our last email, we’ve been continuing to adapt our programs and deliver both education programming and humanitarian aid to the families we serve, from a distance. 

Read on for our latest updates from Jordan!

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Humanitarian Aid Distributions

Since the lockdown began, 90% of the families we serve have lost their income and many are facing food shortages. To help alleviate pressure, and thanks to your generosity, we increased our food distribution program to provide bi-monthly aid to 150 families. This includes staples like rice, oil, flour, and sugar, with protein like fresh chicken or lamb. Thank you to everyone who has donated to this program. Your contributions are making a huge difference!

Stay involved with our Covid-19 Response initiative and donate a $30 food box:

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Distance Learning Activities

Just because our physical center is closed doesn’t mean that the learning has stopped! Our team adapted quickly to the new reality, using WhatsApp to communicate with students and provide daily and weekly assignments and activities. Our WhatsApp “groups” are the place to be these days as students share videos, photos, and stories of their at-home activities!
Below are a few examples of at-home activities, including essays in English about how students are spending their time:

We are proud that we’ve been able to keep our team together and continue providing critical education opportunities so our students don’t fall behind. 

Help us keep our program going strong! Consider setting up a monthly donation to support The Azraq Center!

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Sign Language with Sa’ad

You may remember one of our students, Sa’ad, who is deaf. Last year, we were fortunate to be able to enroll Sa’ad in a Sign Language class at the Azraq Refugee Camp, a 30 minute drive away. This was an amazing opportunity because Sa’ad was never taught to speak, read, or write and he had no real means to communicate. Since the lockdown began, Sa’ad had to stop his visits to the class, but we’ve kept the learning going! With his one-on-one teacher, Amira, Sa’ad continues to learn new words in Sign Language, and work on his reading and writing skills!
Watch the video below to see his amazing progress!

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Eid Mubarak!

Lastly, as we wrap up the final days of Ramadan and head into Eid al-Fitr, we want to wish all of you, whether you are celebrating or not, a happy and healthy holiday! We appreciate your continued support as we respond to the pressing needs of our community. Everything we do is thanks to your generosity - thank you so much!

Warmly,
The Syria Fund team

Dear Supporters, 

Last week, we put out a call to bring essential food items to families facing immediate food shortages due to the Coronavirus lockdown in Jordan. You answered and together we raised $4,000! Thank you!

This week, we delivered. In collaboration with our local partner, Nachmyat Eastern Badia Cooperative, and the local Azraq government, we successfully distributed 150 food packages to families in need. This included 100 families whose children attend The Azraq Center program and an additional 50 vulnerable families in the town. 

This is all thanks to YOUR generosity! Check out the photos below to see your donations at work.

Food packages included: Rice, sugar, beans (lentils, fava beans, green beans), tomato paste, oil, cheese, bulgur, filtered water, milk, and more! Our amazing team worked diligently to provide food in a safe and hygienic way.

The Coronavirus lockdown in Jordan is hitting our families particularly hard. Unable to leave the house and out of work, families are dealing with serious food shortages. We will continue to provide essential food and hygiene to our families as the lockdown continues. $30 provides a food box to a family in need. Consider making a donation to support our ongoing efforts!

Thank you again for your incredible generosity during these challenging times. We are all working together to help those affected by this crisis both in our communities at home and abroad! 

With our deepest gratitude,
The Syria Fund team

Dear TSF Supporters, 

Like so many around the world, The Syria Fund is dealing with the immediate impact that the Coronavirus Pandemic is having on our community in Jordan. Last week, the Jordanian government effectively locked down the entire country to prevent the further spread of the virus. This means that our program, The Azraq Center, is closed until further notice.

Families across Jordan are required to stay at home and even trips to the supermarket or pharmacy are not allowed. We are continuing to support our entire program staff during this time and we are coordinating closely with our local partner and the Azraq Municipality to begin immediate food distributions to some of the most vulnerable families we serve. We will also be working closely with our teachers to create virtual activities and support at-home learning to keep our students active and engaged.

At this time, we are asking for donations of $30 to provide an essential food box to a family in need. The Food Box will include: filtered water, oil, flour, rice, beans, sugar, and milk. We aim to begin distributions, in coordination with local government officials, in the next week.

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IN NON-COVID-19 RELATED NEWS

We thought it might be good to talk about something OTHER than Coronavirus and update you on some of the great activities we began implementing prior to this unscheduled interruption!

A Second Class of Montessori-Inspired Pre-K

As you know, in September of last year, we launched a Montessori-inspired Early Education Room with the Blossom Hill Foundation, the first such program in Azraq.  The program has been a tremendous success and there is a long wait list.  This February, we expanded our partnership to add a second class of 3-5 year old students at our Early Education Room! The program now hosts 60 total children and 6 teachers across two classes, bringing innovative education and learning opportunities to our littlest students!

Test Prep for Teens

The Azraq Center is dedicated to helping students succeed in the classroom, and ultimately graduate high school. We are very proud that this semester, we launched the first and only Test Prep class in Azraq for teenagers studying for the Jordanian High School Exit Exam, the Tawjihi! 

High School graduation and Tawjihi pass rates are extremely low in Azraq. In fact, in past years the pass rate for Tawjihi was in the single digits for Syrian students. We’re working to change that statistic. Before our program started, students had to travel more than 45 minutes to access a test prep class, which isn’t feasible for most. Our first cohort of 25 teenage girls join us 3 days per week for intensive study in the key subjects of Arabic, English, and Math!

Women’s Literacy 

Finally, last month we opened our first women’s literacy class. We received a lot of requests from mothers and other women in the community to help them achieve critical reading and writing skills. Many older women in Azraq, both Syrian and Jordanian, didn’t go to school when they were young or dropped out in grade school. Many have lived their whole lives completely illiterate. Our literacy class is a safe and welcoming space where women (some as old as 65!) can learn to read and write, and have fun while learning!

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We appreciate your support during this stressful time! We are coming together as a Global Community to fight the virus and we are focused on continuing to support our community and respond to their pressing needs. 

Wishing you good health, safety, and as always, sending our gratitude.

Best,

The Syria Fund team

Dear Supporters, 

Happy 2020! We're entering a new year with more impactful programming and humanitarian aid for refugee families in the rural community of Azraq, Jordan. Thank you for your continued support which makes it all possible! Read on for some of our recent programming highlights from Azraq.

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Poetry & Art Workshops

We started the year with new, enriching arts programming at The Azraq Center with our partners Voices of the Children! Grade 4 and 5 boys wrote poetry around the theme of "Legacy". Then, they interpreted their work into visual representations through making and painting masks of their faces! Look out for more great programming with VoC this year, including theater, film, and photography workshops coming this Spring!

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The Blossom Hill Montessori Room

TSF wrapped up the first semester of our new Montessori-inspired Early Education room at The Azraq Center thanks to the support of the Blossom Hill Foundation. This Spring, we look forward to expanding our partnership and opening a second class, bringing innovative early education to 30 more Syrian and Jordanian children ages 3-5 in Azraq! Check out the below video for more on this exciting initiative:

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Winter Distributions

Thanks to generous donations, TSF distributed nearly 100 food packages last month to families in need with our partners Nachmyat Eastern Badia Cooperative. Packages contain staple items like rice, oil, canned beans, and more. Thanks to everyone who continues to support our humanitarian aid initiatives!

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An Interview with Business Insider

TSF Executive Director Lexi spoke with Business Insider last week about our work in Jordan and the importance of supporting the host community along with refugees in Azraq. Check out the interview in the video below!

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Thank you for your continued support! Consider making a 2020 donation to The Syria Fund today!

With gratitude,
The Syria Fund Team

Click on the image below to read our 2019 report from The Azraq Center!

This month, thanks to the incredible support of the Blossom Hill Foundation, The Azraq Center launched a first-of-its kind program in Azraq: a Montessori Early Education Center!

Not only is this the FIRST early education center in South Azraq, it is incorporating the proven innovative Montessori learning method into the classroom, something never before seen in this small, rural town. 

Here’s how we did it:

1. Partner with a World Class Montessori Institution

We partnered with the Modern Montessori School in Amman, Jordan, a 30+ year old institution, to conduct an intensive Montessori teacher training for 11 trainees. Over the course of 3 months, our group of trainees commuted to Amman for training in Montessori theory and developmental psychology. The course included hands-on experience in Montessori classrooms as well as lecture time with certified trainers. At the end of 180 hours, each trainee sat for an exam and earned a Ministry of Education-certified certificate in Montessori Education! 

TSF meets with MMS in Amman

Trainee Nour Al Fayiz

Trainee Haneen Al Shaalan

2. Create a classroom

Montessori classrooms are set up with specific guidelines and intentionality. We engaged with a local carpenter and local furniture manufacturer to create the required materials for our classroom. This includes KG-sized classroom furniture in addition to the specific Montessori tools and activities that our students will learn with. We are proud to source all of our materials locally to support the Jordanian economy and small businesses. Once everything was delivered, it was fun to unpack it all and set it all up!

Alia and Lexi measure shelves

Haneen and Nour set up the room

Teacher Su’ad unpacks

Montessori Materials unpacked & ready!

3. Select the students

The Azraq Center conducted an extensive outreach campaign to select 30 students ages 3-5 to participate in the program. Students come from both Syrian and Jordanian families, in an effort to bring families together and support social cohesion here in Azraq. We took measures to ensure families understood the level of commitment required for the program, would ensure regular attendance from their children, and were open and receptive to the ideas of both early education AND alternative learning methods.

Majed, 5

Tuleen, 4

Asmaa, 5

Amed, 3

4. Spread awareness of the new concept

Since this was the first time that our beneficiaries had ever even heard the term “Montessori”, it was important to share the philosophy behind the program and prep the families for what to expect! Our three selected teachers and school administrators hosted an introductory awareness session for all the moms to learn about the program and ask questions. We conducted a pre-program assessment and moderated a lively and engaging discussion! The parents were particularly enthusiastic about the philosophy behind Montessori learning, the idea that students learn through peer-to-peer learning and activity/play base vs. the traditional classroom environment.

Principal Alia speaks with families

Teacher Su’ad explains Montessori philosophy

5. Put it all together! 

Now that we have a beautiful space, qualified teachers, engaged parents, and eager students, it is time to get learning! Classes are finally beginning and we can’t wait to show you the results of this incredible effort! Stay tuned as our classroom gets going!

From left to right: Haneen, Su’ad, Lexi, Nour, Alia

School might be on break but the learning does not stop for the summer. At the Azraq Center, we've adapted our summer schedule to promote enriching education while keeping elements of summer fun!

Embracing Creativity

Thursday is our craft day. Whether it's a musical performance or a drawing workshop, you can always expect your artistic side to be satisfied on Thursdays at the Azraq Center. Our amazing teachers have gone above and beyond this summer through a wide diversity of engaging and unique activities that allow students to think in new ways.

Staying Active

The benefits of exercise span from enhanced academic performance to prolonged smiles throughout the day. We start every morning with guided exercises, making sure all of our students are not only staying active but doing it in a way that makes it fun. We also frequently take trips to the nearby soccer field where our students are navigating teamwork, healthy competition, and bending it like Beckham.

Giving back to our school

We all have a role to play! To give back to the campus, students help out to maintain and clean up around the school alongside teachers and staff. Students saw the intersection of creativity and utility as they channeled their inner artist into repainting walls and murals. This process of giving back creates a shared sense of compassion and care.

Local Military Memorial

6th-grade students spent the day learning more about Azraq Town at a local military memorial and museum. This visit yielded an enriching historic and cultural experience for our students who learned more about the history of their town.

Magic in Azraq

The Azraq Center welcomed Magician Jamie Jibberish from Magic for Smiles who specializes in humanitarian magic for refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey. Jamie dazzled students with his tricks while promoting self-confidence through performance.

Learning with our moms

This summer, we opened our classroom doors so that our mothers didn't just observe the programs their children are in but were able to actively engage with them IN the classroom. We are committed to sharing a love of education that extends into the home and engaging with parents is an essential step in this process!

Acting for a Cause

Fourth and fifth-grade students at the center participated in a play entitled Conserving Our Environment. The play explored the effects that littering has on trees and the natural landscape, urging everyone to pick up their trash.

Monday Morning Radio

The Azraq Center's Monday morning radio is an opportunity for students to engage with their classmates and develop their public speaking skills. Students take turns each morning to take the microphone and read out loud, tell a story, or share an update from the news

Eid al Fitr

After hosting several iftar dinners and providing food distributions throughout the month of Ramadan, the Azraq Center celebrated Eid al Fitr with our community with a banquet dinner and lots of celebrations.

Dance for Azraq high school exams

Students from The Azraq Center performed a traditional dance to celebrate students at a local high school as they took their final exams.

Eid al Adha

This year we went all out for our Eid al Adha celebrations. From arts and crafts to musical performances, our community came together this holiday providing a joyous time for everyone. In addition to these holiday activities, we celebrated by distributing fresh meat and new clothes. This Eid proved a great culmination to an amazing summer at The Azraq Center.

From its strategic location to its natural water sources, the Jordanian town of Azraq has long held significance. Situated in the Azraq Oasis, it serves as the only permanent source of fresh water in approximately 12,000 square kilometers of desert. This opulent land has seen centuries of visitors from Lawrence of Arabia to rare birds from around the world. 

Did you know?

Azraq contains two major nature reserves: The Azraq Wetlands and The Shomari Reserve.

The town is home to multiple ethnic groups, including Druze and Chechens who settled in the town in the early 1900s.

Chechens, fleeing Russian persecution, were drawn to Azraq in the early 20th century for its farming and fishing opportunities. They still maintain their language and traditions until today!

Water Buffalo, once extinct in the reserve, have been reintroduced to the Wetlands Reserve - if you’re lucky, you can find them there!

More than 280 unique species of migratory birds have been recorded in Azraq - some originating from as far off as Africa and Scandinavia!

Qasr Al Azraq (Azraq Castle) famously served as a Castle for Lawrence of Arabia, and you can find architectural examples from multiple eras at this historic site! It was originally built by the Romans in the early 4th century. The Umayyads used the site as a hunting palace and in the 13th century, the Ayyubids significantly expanded the castle and used it to defend against Crusaders. Later, Turks stationed a garrison at the site in the 16th century and in 1918, Arabs (and Lawrence of Arabia) used the site during the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire.

Fun Fact: The entrance of Qasr Al Azraq has indents from when guards would play board games using pebbles.

Human activity has not only affected this desert oasis landscape through the depletion of natural wetlands— since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, the population of Azraq has nearly doubled from the influx of refugees.

With strains on all sectors of the economy in Azraq town, The Syria Fund is committed to providing opportunities for Syrians and Jordanians to improve their situations and create stronger social cohesion. This starts with getting every kid back in school.

At The Azraq Center, we believe that giving children a seat in a classroom is an essential first step in addressing their needs, but we also know that more is needed. In addition to remedial education provided on a daily basis, we enrich our students lives with classes in art, music, and more. And not only that, we want our kids to connect with their community and know the rich history of the town they live in! We take field trips to local historic sites as our students spend time discovering the history, geography, and ethnic diversity of their town!