Our Educational Programs

Online

During the pandemic, Ray of Hope’s online curriculum consisted of a monthly program focusing on one piece of literature and culminating in a project. In these monthly programs, children from the Malakasa camp engaged in book club-style group discussions, presentations, creative writing exercises, and debates.

Our Online Curriculum

Climate change

In this unit, students learned about the growing environmental issues facing the world, with a specific focus on deforestation and the importance of immediate action to combat the damage done by humankind. Students also learned about how their generation will be crucial to actioning change for this issue. This unit culminated in a hands-on reforestation activity in which students received olive trees to plant in Athens.

Readings:

The Lorax by Dr. Suess

The Boy Who Grew a Forest by Sophia Gholz

Greek Mythology

In this unit, students explored Greek mythology and culture via the stories of Hercules and The Odyssey. Students learned about the socio-cultural climate of ancient Greece and important themes and values represented in these stories, such as human dignity, empathy, and the significance of leaving one’s home and what that journey entails. This unit culminated in a debate based on themes within Greek mythology.

Readings:

The Odyssey

Hercules

In-Person

Ray of Hope’s interactive, hands-on programs are meant to encourage children to interact with important contemporary issues. Please see below to learn more about our various initiatives, including a hybrid program in art history, a book club on influential female figures, and a film viewing and discussion on climate change.

Our Interactive Initiatives

Reforestation Activity

After learning about climate change, the students participated in a reforestation activity for Athens. Each student received a young olive oil tree to plant either at their homes or a nearby garden. Since the activity, students have been monitoring the growth and health of their olive trees, and have even taken the initiative to create their own gardens.

Women in History

In this interactive unit, the students, who were all Afghan women from the Ritsona refugee camp, learned about three influential women in history: Amelia Earhart, Frida Kahlo, and Malala Yousafzai. By reading about these women’s stories, as well as following Ray of Hope’s Women in History curriculum, these students (many for the first time) learned about the achievements of influential female figures. As part of the experiential nature of this program, students charted their own aviation path like Amelia Earhart, created self-portraits like Frida Kahlo, and wrote letters to Malala Yousafzai explaining her impact on them.