Questscope in Za'atari

Over the past 8 years, the Youth Center has grown into a hub of creativity and hope. It has expanded activities to include programs in:

• Mentorship – the core activity for all youth enrolled at the Center;

• Photography school – top quality training for future self-employment and income generation for the school;

• Videography training – filmmaking and narrative storytelling are key means of healing and self-awareness;

• Fitness & sports – training in sports skills and teamwork, with special opportunities for girls and young women;

• Health – including nutrition counseling and Zumba exercise classes for women;

• Trauma alleviation – a unique program, Barefoot Psychology, developed in Za’atari offers science-based lay counseling for healing from violence; Syrian refugees are practitioners and trainers both inside and outside Za’atari camp;

• Poetry – poetry is cultivated as a deep connection to historical Arab cultural expression;

• Performing arts – drama, mime, playwriting and acting all provide a means of communication and self-development;

• Art – drawing, painting, 3-D paperwork (e.g., origami, scrolling), and pottery-making reinforce imagination and talent;

• English language and computer skills – improve work opportunities.

These activities create a foundation for the development of young Syrian adults as leaders and contributors to the Center, their communities and their own lives.