Future Academy uses the power of language and the magic of sport to create hope and opportunity for refugee children in Beirut. We work in Burj Barajneh and Shatila Camps where we provide refugee and stateless children with access to quality education, sports, creative arts, and vocational skills in a safe, supportive environment. 
By combining learning with creativity, play, and psychosocial support, we help children heal from trauma, grow in confidence, and gain the tools they need to build a brighter, more independent future. Our programmes are delivered in the classroom, on the pitch and in the community. 
Young refugees in Beirut face a lifetime in camps, with no legal status, limited access to education, and little hope for the future. Many are out of school, suffer from deep social isolation, and live with trauma from war and displacement. Ongoing violence and poverty increase their risk of exploitation, mental health struggles, and exclusion from society. 
Future Academy is needs-based and community driven. Founded in 2019 by Chris Watts, an English teacher, and Ahmad al Jamal, a third-generation Palestinian refugee and professional footballer, we have 6 years’ experience of delivering effective and inclusive projects that empower, protect, inspire and challenge children facing a lifetime living in a refugee camp. 
Our programmes are led by local refugee teachers and coaches, supported by native English-speaking volunteers from the UK. Together, we provide more than 150 children in Beirut’s refugee camps with daily opportunities for learning, fun, and friendship. We help increase their chances of accessing higher education and employment, while supporting their emotional wellbeing and resilience to face the unique challenges of life in a refugee camp.

Registered charity number : 1187737 (Charity Commission for England and Wales)

Future Academy Beirut

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