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 A protracted refugee situation is “one in which refugees find themselves in a long - standing and intractable state of limbo. Their lives may not be at risk, but their basic rights and essential economic, social and psychological needs remain unfulfilled after years of exile.” - UNHCR 2004.

 

Where the Za'atari refugee camp stands, 3 years a go there was nothing but dirt, now it is the fourth largest city in Jordan. Its inhabitants live in temporary housing but with no hope of changing any time soon. What it must be like to be physically living in the liminal; caught between a war in their home and an unknown future, and always on a precipice for change. It is hard to fathom the physical and emotional toll this has on those living there, and how students could even go to school with the current situation. Ground Zero Syria (part 10) focuses on the Za'atari Refugee Camp and the reality of the liminal space. A French psychosocial doctor says,

 

"They have not lost hope. Their hope has been compromised by the loss of their former lives, and their inability to project themselves into the future since they don’t know if their time in the camp is temporary or if they'll be able to return home and what will be waiting for them when they get home since many of their homes have been destroyed by bombings.  Loss of material items, heritage, loved ones, past lives, projects, professional ambitions, of their lives."

Ground Zero Syria (Part 10) - Za'atari Refugee Camp

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This is the underpinning of education and what it can provide. Hope. By providing children with an opportunity to learn and take control of their own lives in a time that much is decided for them. It is a chance for them to engage in the process of liminality, reaching out to create a community of practice in hopes of being able to change their future situation. During the time that students can be taught, they are being kids. It is almost the only time they can be afforded this luxury and therefore it is the time with the most psychosocial benefit. Their virtual backpack becomes full with questions, and creativity; bursting to be able to learn and be apart of some normalcy. That is why this space is based in the liminal, it is a process of learning that is difficult but allows students to look inwards at their own learning and develop both academically and emotionally. For these children, this is the key to their future.

 

As potential future educators of refugee children, it is thus important to gather the context and understanding of some of the psychosocial and emotional tolls that the liminality of their situation causes. When they left their homes no one could have anticipated their present, but what we can focus on is their future. This is not a physical space that can endured forever, nor was it meant to be, and we can aid these kids in putting their focus on what they can control and their choices, rather than what has been decided for them.