Policy Brief
Research Team:
Cyrine Saab, Research Coordinator, Department of Education, American University of Beirut
Anies Al-Hroub, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology & Special Education, Department of Education, American University of Beirut (AUB)
Barend Vlaardingerbroek, Associate Professor, Department of Education, American University of Beirut (AUB)
Education and Youth Policy Program, October 2019
Summary
This policy brief principally targets the educational needs of street children in Lebanon, while recognizing that these needs do not occur in a vacuum. Street children are herein defined as children between the ages of 6 and 15 who are on the street during school hours. The Lebanese situation is unique as most street children are non-Lebanese citizens – mostly members of refugee populations – and most do not actually live on the street, but rather return to their families at the end of the day. Several government ministries and NGOs are involved in a variety of intervention programs, but there remains a lack of a common vision and practical coordination among these agencies.