Today marks the five year anniversary of our Karam Families program. Join us in celebrating the 5th Birthday of Karam Families by learning five new things about the program!

Karam Families has sent 552 school-age Syrian refugees back to school!

On September 2, 2015, three-year-old Aylan Kurdi drowned in the Mediterranean Sea as he and his family tried to reach Europe from Turkey. His story opened our eyes to all the children who did not have access to basic needs and resources, so we took action to send refugee children back to school. Nearly half of school-age Syrians are without access to education due to regional instability, unsafe conditions, language, and financial barriers. Over the last five years, Karam Families has worked against these barriers by sending 552 children back to school — and we are just getting started!

Families do not just receive a stipend, they participate in awareness learning each month.

Each month, the Karam Families team organizes awareness activities for the families in the program. Topics range from the benefits of technology to dealing with mental health to the importance of open communication within the family. By offering this opportunity to families, they are not merely receiving a stipend, they are learning skills that will support them on their journey to self-sufficiency and to cultivate positive family relationships.

The Karam Families team conducts monthly check-ins and accompanies families to appointments and meetings

The Karam Families team does more than provide stipends to families. Through monthly check-ins, the team develops close relationships with the families, allowing them to better understand their needs and provide adequate support. This means anything from connecting families with job opportunities to accompanying them to doctor appointments. Rather than deciding their needs for them, the team begins by listening to the families and empowers them by connecting them with the necessary resources. 

The needs of the whole family—not just the children— are considered

Karam Families sees that a family functions as a team, not a set of individuals. Thus, the Karam Families team works with the older siblings, parents, or relatives of the children to ensure their needs are being met and helps to fill the gaps where they are not. For instance, the team is helping an older child of one of the families to find access to medical resources. For the whole family to reach self-sufficiency, all members need to be empowered and supported. 

25 families have reached self-sufficiency and have graduated from the program

The goal of this program is to send children back to school and help their families reach self-sufficiency. Since its inception, 25 families have graduated the program and are now able to provide for themselves and their families! While it is hard to part ways, it is empowering to see the strength and resilience of these families in the face of displacement.

That’s a lot to celebrate. And we are just getting started. We cannot wait to grow this program in breadth and depth over the next five years. Happy Birthday, Karam Families.

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