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Celebrating UNRWA education staff this World Teachers’ Day

05 October 2015

In a classroom in Dheisheh refugee camp in the West Bank, students lean out of their chairs, all eager for their chance to answer questions about Arabic grammar. The active and happy learning environment is a credit to teacher Yousif Adawi, one of 22,000 UNRWA education staff who are responsible for teaching almost half a million Palestine refugees in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Gaza and the West Bank.

The operation of UNRWA schools is only possible thanks to the generous support of donors, the largest of which is the Government of the United States.

Yousif’s example is not just special because of the enthusiasm for learning in his classroom, but also because of his efforts to motivate children living in poverty and struggling with social pressures. Each day, teachers like Yousif bring happiness and hope to hundreds of thousands of refugee children. This is his story.

Watch the video featuring some of the teachers making a difference in the lives of Palestine refugee students, including Yousif Adawi.

Yousif has been teaching at Dheisheh Basic Boys’ School for 30 years. He himself was a student at the school, and his four children also studied at UNRWA schools. UNRWA-provided education has given the whole family a solid start on their paths to success: Yousif’s youngest son is now studying business at university; one daughter is a lawyer; the other a teacher; and his other son is an engineer. © 2015 UNRWA Photo by Isabel de la Cruz“About 10 years ago, I noticed some students were becoming violent, careless, and performing weakly in their education. There was no motivation for education,” says Yousif. “It was painful to see. I felt that our students were in danger – that if we didn’t take any actions, we’d see negative effects on the entire community. There is also the danger of a sense of internal defeat, internal loss. So I began looking for solutions to those problems.” © 2015 UNRWA Photo by Isabel de la CruzCelebrating UNRWA education staff this World Teachers’ DayYousif’s initiatives also include linking students with local community organizations, for example those that promote art, creativity and sport, to help them further develop their talents. Similarly, he arranges visits to institutions such as courts, to educate students about the wider community, and universities, so they can explore their options for the future. © 2015 UNRWA Photo by Isabel de la CruzWithin the classroom, Yousif uses drama, comedy, games and other interactive methods to energize students and promote learning. “This is part of an integrated learning approach. When students seem sad or bored, I change the style,” he explains. Methods like those taught by Yousif were cited in a 2014 World Bank study as one of the reasons UNRWA students excel in their education, outperforming peers by an average of a year of schooling. © 2015 UNRWA Photo by Isabel de la Cruz“Teacher Yousif doesn’t only teach us from books, but also through other activities, and through comedy and drama. He also teaches us about ourselves and our communities,” says student Adam, 13. Thanks to the generosity of those willing to support the UNRWA education programme, notably the United States, students like Adam and the other 500,000 kids in UNRWA schools can see a bright future ahead. © 2015 UNRWA Photo by Isabel de la Cruz

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