BEIRUT: Education programs for Iraqi refugee children, targeting attendance and discrimination in public schools, were declared a resounding success Tuesday, as the Swedish branch of the NGO Save the Children, presented the achievements of a three-year project.

The World Bank-funded project, “Taaleem,” meaning education in Arabic, sought to provide “a better life for Iraqi refugees” in Lebanon and ensure the “rights to education and protection,” for Iraqi children, said Ruba Khoury, director of Save the Children-Sweden’s Lebanese office.

She explained the project responded to the educational needs of children “whose childhood’s dreams were transformed into displacement, anxiety and school dropout … because of the war.”

As part of the project, some 600 Iraqi and Lebanese children were provided with remedial educational classes in 12 national centers, while some 200 youngsters received technical training. Twenty public schools were also rehabilitated.

“We chose schools attended by an important number of Iraqi refugee children,” said project manager Miled Abu Jaoude, stressing that the activities were also available to Lebanese students.

Save the Children conducted interviews with children, who seemed to enjoy the activities.

“When I don’t come here, I’m bored,” said 8-year-old Samer, about his remedial classes.

Hawra, 15, said she use to have very little time to study as she had to help her little sister with her homework, but now, “we’re both benefiting from [the center], I wished it had started before.”

A mother of four, Zeina also seemed impressed by the NGO’s work. “How do you do it? How are you able to deal with children without shouting at them?” she asked, noting they have become, “less violence … and even break less things at home.”

The project also worked on fighting discrimination against Iraqi refugees by organizing joint activities between Lebanese and Iraqi students. School clubs with artistic and recreational activities were introduced, as well nondiscrimination awareness sessions.

“It’s better now,” said Abu Jaoude. “We’re still working on it but discrimination is now a rare phenomenon.”

He believes the project has had a real impact on young Iraqi refugees.

“The rate of school dropout decreased consistently,” he said, adding that 1,600 Iraqi children per year were now registered in school, compared to only 1,200 18 months ago.

Fadi Yarak, the director of education at the Education Ministry, praised the project for establishing a, “renewed educational atmosphere inside schools,” and training children “to fight discrimination, reject violence and accept the other.”

Wafaa Mourtada, the director of Baalbek public schools, who spoke on behalf of all directors of all public schools where Iraqis are enroled, stressed that local and Iraqi children were, “equally treated.”

We hope social clubs implemented during the project will continue functioning as “they benefit both Lebanese and Iraqi students in all regions and help students overcome the difficulties they may face,” she said.

“Education is the best thing we can offer to our children, and it’s the way to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development,” Yarak said.