Think Creative Fall 2024

Program in focus A closer look at Creative’s work in action

Wearing lab coats and getting their hands dirty, children at the STEAM Summer Adventure camp in central Ramallah worked in groups to create their terrariums. They selected containers and lined them with soil to create the perfect environment for their plants, discussing what each one needs to thrive. As they arrange the small plants in the soil, the children discover the importance of ecosystems and sustainability, gaining a deeper understanding of environmental stewardship. The hands-on activity is just one of many planned throughout USAID’s Basic Education Activity (BEA) STEAM Summer Adventure camps. The camps, hosted around the West Bank, aim to spark creativity and curiosity in children through activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Serving children aged 4-13 through activities in horticulture, electricity, solar energy and recycling, the summer camps provide a platform to explore new concepts and build essential skills. Summer camp facilitators trained with Al Nayzak, a Palestinian science and technology organization partnered with BEA to host the camps. Their training ranged from basic pedagogical techniques to teaching social and emotional skills to help children share their feelings, hopes and worries openly. Over the next four years, BEA will strengthen primary and extracurricular education in the West Bank and Gaza. It targets marginalized communities by providing literacy, numeracy and social and emotional support for children, parents and teachers affected by the conflict. n “I love working with kids because I’m here to make an impact on them.” West Bank & Gaza Basic Education Activity - Eman Shoobneh, Summer Camp Facilitator

Photo by Jim Huylebroek

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