Project Overview
The  two educational enhancement centres in Rafah and Dier El Balah Refugee Camps established by IR Palestine successfully improved the quality of life for the children in those refugee camps.

However, as there are eight refugee camps in the Gaza Strip with large populations and high poverty rates, more educational enhancement centres are required.

Therefore, IR Palestine opened an education enhancement center in Maghazi Refugee Camp in order to enhance the educational experience of students and provide the resources they lack in school. It also aims to help integrate disabled children into society.

Problem / Project Background

The quality of life in Palestinian refugee camps is very poor, with a dense population living in a very small area. Unemployment rates are as high as 40% - 50% in these camps.
Poverty has had a heavy impact on the children growing up in the camps. They lack decent educational and recreational facilities. Needless to say, toys, books, computers and other facilities are mostly out of their reach.

Maghazi Refugee Camp is an urban, medium-sized camp located in the middle of the Gaza Strip. Half of Maghazi's population of 24,500 is under the age of 16. A recent survey carried out by UNRWA in the area showed that:

• 71% of the children do not have access to libraries
  
  
• 74% of the children do not have access to entertainment facilities
  
  
• 51% of the children do not know how to use the computer

In order to address these problems Islamic Relief, together with the EC and a local partner, established an educational enhancement centre. It provides interesting, fun and educational activities for the deprived children growing up in the camps.

Project Objectives
Poverty reduction through improved educational opportunities.

Project Activities
1. Providing computer training which can be recreational and educational through computer games, CD's and access to the Internet.

2. Providing a library of English and Arabic books, audio and video materials.

3. Providing a bank of quality toys and indoor games, which will enrich children's recreation time.

4. Providing supplementary classes in English, Arabic and Mathematics.

5. Help integrate disabled children into society by providing support to injured and traumatized children by the recent violence.

Project Goal
To provide disadvantaged children including disabled children with skills and opportunities.

Beneficiaries
The target group is children under the age of 18 of whom there are an estimated 14,700 in Maghazi Refugee Camp.