Thank you!
We received your application and we will be in touch soon. In the meantime please consider subscribing to our newsletter:
Partners: Jusoor; Sawa for Development & Aid; Save the Children Italy
Funding: Jusoor NGO; CatalyticAction; Silivia Coimbra and Jose Figueiredo
Collaborators: Arup UK; Volunteers – Maria Gomez Javaloyes, Elena Brunete, Klaudia Munoz, Ramona Abdallah, Bahaa Ghassan, Whard Sleiman, Odysseas Mourtzouchos, Stephen Drury, Rouba Daham, Fatima Zahra Al-Qobbi, Abbas Sbeity, Ramy Hayek, Wael Itani, Hicham Mohammed, Orane, Stephanie El-Hourany, Claudia Spinelli, Edoardo Conti, Salam LADC volunteers (2016). Simple Works (2025).
Sponsors: Power tools donated by Bosh Global (Lebanon branch)
Jusoor and Sawa for Development Aid (SDAID) established in 2014 a tented school within the Jarahieh informal settlement, 16km from the Syrian border in the Lebanese town of Al-Marj. For two years, it housed classes for nearly 320 children between the ages of 5 and 14. However, the school constantly needed repairs. Made with wood and tarp, it was poorly lit, badly ventilated and over exposed to the elements. To address this, we joined forces with Jusoor and SDAID to build a better school. We hoped that this school would act as a safe haven for children who had experienced the trauma of war, displacement and ongoing insecurity.
The Jarahieh School was built by adaptively reusing a pavilion donated by Save the Children Italy, shipped to Lebanon from its original location at the 2015 Milan Expo. By repurposing the pavilion, we created a new school with bright and naturally lit classrooms, as well as dedicated spaces for recreation. This redevelopment created a stimulating environment for children who have to endure life within the harsh conditions of a refugee informal tented settlement. As a space of safety, it also provides children with the opportunity to grow and develop confidence.
The school’s fabrication from limited resources is an example of a creative, pragmatic and sustainable approach to design. The walls and roofs of the school were insulated with locally sourced sheep’s wool, a solution we developed with Maria Gomez Javaloyes, an expert from Spain.
Providing both thermal insulation, and acting as a sound barrier, the sheep’s wool was perfect for protecting children from varying temperatures and noise travelling between classrooms. Working with local sheep’s wool also enabled us to hire local women and farmers. With specific knowledge of how to clean, dry and prepare the wool for use, women contributed a lot to the construction process which is typically dominated by men.
The design of the Jarahieh School was directly informed by participatory design exercises with groups of school children and teachers. By creating a community project through this inclusive approach, we aimed to improve social cohesion both within the settlement and neighbouring Lebanese communities. With a diverse range of Syrian ethnic groups living within the Jarahieh informal settlement, the project presented an opportunity to work together on what would become a shared social infrastructure.
The inclusive approach adopted in this project also involved transferring skills and building knowhow to local labourers from the Jarahieh community, empowering women in the settlement to be part of the construction team and sourcing materials from the most vulnerable.
Since its construction in 2016, Jarahieh School has remained an ongoing commitment rather than a completed project. Over the years, we have continued to assess its evolving needs and carry out maintenance and targeted improvements to keep the facilities functional and supportive of learning.
In 2019, works included installing a protective canopy above the sinks area, upgrading the water system, improving the façade and classrooms, repairing roof leakages, adding floor tiles and storage space, and enhancing the courtyard with new shading, trees, and vegetation. We also completed a new façade mural and maintained the climbing wall mural.
In 2024, we replaced damaged roof sheets, installed new OSB ceiling panels in several rooms, and carried out insecticide treatment.
In 2025, this long-term engagement led to the addition of a new school library, developed in response to the needs expressed by students and teachers. The library provides a dedicated space for reading, studying, and research, further strengthening the school’s role as a supportive learning environment.
We received your application and we will be in touch soon. In the meantime please consider subscribing to our newsletter: