In Lebanon’s West Bekaa, six-year-old twins Aleen and Aseel Abdelgalil walk hand in hand to their classroom at Jusoor’s Jeb Jennine Education Center, their backpacks filled with notebooks and dreams. Born as refugees in Lebanon after their parents fled the war in Syria, their journey has been marked by struggle—but also by hope, resilience, and the power of education.
A Family Uprooted by War
Their mother, Shifaa Kharita, once studied Arabic literature at Damascus University, dreaming of a future as a teacher. But when war forced her and her husband to flee to Lebanon, those dreams seemed impossible. As refugees, Shifaa found herself unable to work legally, and the family struggled to make ends meet.
“We left everything behind—our home, our memories, our future,” Shifaa recalls. “The hardest part was knowing my daughters might grow up without an education.”
Everything changed when Shifaa discovered Jusoor. Not only did the organization offer her a job as a teacher, but it also provided her daughters with access to quality education—something they would have otherwise been denied.
“In Lebanon, even if refugee children can attend public schools, the classrooms are overcrowded, and the system is strained,” Shifaa explains. “At Jusoor, my girls receive personalized attention, a safe environment, and a curriculum that prepares them for the future.”
Dreams Taking Flight
For Aleen and Aseel, Jusoor is more than just a school—it’s a place where their imaginations can soar.
Though identical in appearance, the twins have very different passions. Aseel, the more talkative of the two, dreams of becoming a teacher, just like her mother.
“I want to help other kids learn, just like my teachers help me,” she says with a bright smile.
Meanwhile, Aleen spends her free time drawing colorful pictures of flowers, houses, and her family. “When I grow up, I want to be an artist,” she says shyly.
Their mother watches proudly as they grow more confident each day. “Education is their only way forward,” Shifaa says. “Without Jusoor, they might have been left behind. Now, they have a chance to build the future we couldn’t have in Syria.”
A Family Uplifted
The Abdelgalil family’s story is one of resilience. Despite the hardships of displacement, Shifaa found purpose in teaching, and her daughters found a place where their dreams are nurtured.
“Jusoor didn’t just give me a job—it gave my daughters a lifeline,” Shifaa says. “For refugee children, education isn’t just about learning to read and write. It’s about hope, opportunity, and the belief that they can achieve anything.”
As Aleen and Aseel continue their journey at Jusoor, their story serves as a reminder that even in the darkest times, education lights the way forward.
