News >Access Summer Camp 2023

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In the context of the Intensive Sessions component of the English Access Microscholarship Program funded by the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Teach For Lebanon held a summer camp in 2023 attended by 445 of its 500 students students from all over Lebanon, and divided over 4 regional clusters:

• Cluster 1 (August 9-10) with 100 students at Collège des Frères Deddeh-El Koura.

• Cluster 2 (August 17-18) with 131 students  at Collège des Frères Deddeh-El Koura.

• Cluster 3 (September 4-5) with 107 students at Al Khayal Hotel, Riyak, Beqaa

• Cluster 4 (October 6-7) with 107 students at Hotel Le Crillon, Broummana

The summer camp included a one-night sleepover at selected dorms around the venue of the first two clusters, and at the hotels themselves of Clusters 3 and 4. Day 1 consisted of inducting students into Social Entrepreneurship through inspiring training sessions by a professional organization with the aim of showing them the way to creating sustainable solutions for pressing problems in their communities, in line with the UN’s SDGs, and the US model of community projects. The day closed with extra-curricular and fun activities.

Day 2 was designed for the students to present the Community Service projects they had planned and implemented from February through June 2023, followed by certificates distribution.

All four clusters witnessed the attendance of TFL staff and TFL alumni. Clusters 1 and 4 witnessed the attendance of U.S. Embassy officials, comprised of the English Language Coordinator/Public Diplomacy,  Ms. Edith Bitar, and four marines who all sat on the jury panels of the Community Service project presentations. 

It is worth mentioning that the 500 Access students had put in place a total of 75 Community Service projects covering a wide array of topics, such as Mental Health, Bullying, Importance of Reading, Academic Stress, Anti-Smoking Initiatives, Supporting the Orphans, Pollution, Tree Planting, and Breast Cancer Awareness.

Furthermore, the Access students actively participated in various outdoor activities, including basketball and body combat, as well as engaged in indoor activities such as art, board games, and team-building exercises.

Impressions from students, teachers, assistants and volunteering Access alumni abound. High satisfaction with the content, organization and overall experience of this Access Summer Camp was also voiced out by them. 

Here are some of the testimonials:

Testimonial from a student in Abdallah Al Khoury School

“I enjoyed my time a lot. It was the most fun and beautiful camp that I ever attended in my whole life so keep going guys you are the best.”

Testimonial from a student in Al Moukhtara Public School

“All the love and all the support! A BIG THANKS to every human that had a role in this camp/ programme! You literally changed my life. I had no idea that I'd have the chance to reach what I've reached today!”

Testimonial from a student in Al Damour Public School

“As for the camp, it was a beautiful experience that provided us with the opportunity to learn and communicate with others.”