Project Description
STRUCTURED PLAY IN BEKAA VALLEY
The Crossing Lines team in Lebanon uses slacklining as a psycho-social support activity for Syrian refugee youth. Through slacklining, we teach social skills like patience and conflict resolution, and help these kids gain self-esteem, confidence, and an ability to focus. These skills are crucial to healthy childhood development, and without school and organized play, hundreds of thousands of refugee youth are struggling.
“When you put them on a line, when you make them a group, and teach them to share, you support them to be one hand. Every student has to know that. It’s very important in our society to share, to make groups, to be one hand. And that’s what you did.”
NADIA, PALESTINIAN, ENGLISH TEACHER AT SONBOLA CENTER
WHY SLACKLINING?
CURRENT AND PAST PROJECTS
We run projects around the world
LATEST ARTICLES
Together we make all the difference
Introducing Crossing Lines: Albuquerque
Crossing Lines is continuing to foster grassroots projects in more cities around the United States, this time in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We partnered up with the Refugee Well-being Project at the University of New Mexico during an outdoor version of their weekly 'Learning Circles', which integrate refugee families with locals of the Albuquerque community. At these gatherings, cultural exchange is abundant amidst play time, group activities, and one-on-one interaction.
Ali’s Story
We spent three years there, imprisoned by barbed wire and armed military who would rather take to violence than use their words. We slept in tents and small houses made of clay, living as best we could in our confinement.
Fear and Love in the Middle East
The moment my foot touched ground outside the train, I felt guilt, not relief. He knew. He knew I was scared of him. He knew why. And he knew he wasn’t a threat.
Illogical Immigration Restrictions
President Trump signed a visa ban against people from Islamic countries, including Iraq, Syria, Libya, [...]
A note to refugees: Travel with peace and good protect you
In 2008, I took a daytrip to Latakia on the Syrian coast to see what [...]
CHANGE A LIFE TODAY
Without play, we are looking at a generation of lost children scarred by war, poverty, and violence, with many lacking education and stability. Help us teach refugee and other at-risk youth the confidence, creativity, and determination it will take to help them overcome the challenges ahead.