Escaping one of the most brutal civil wars in modern history and settling in Lebanon; a country where youth are the only source of hope for a brighter future, a group of intelligent and promising Syrian refugee students initiated Team Hope in 2016 to revive the hope for refugees across the globe. With the limited educational resource and opportunities in the host country, the challenges accompanying transitioning to a new educational curriculum, and the scarcity of hands-on learning experience and vocational training within the Lebanese curriculum, Multi-Aid Programs non-governmental humanitarian organization through Team Hope embarked on an educational revolution by integrating STEM education in its non-formal education curriculum.

With this initiative, Team Hope enrolled in various training courses which prepared them to win more than 20 awards on the national level and one award on the regional level in addition to 7 awards on the international level.

Throughout 2017 till 2021 Team Hope participated in the FIRST Global Challenge representing all refugees around the world and earned three awards on the international level with their great achievement of winning first place in the FIRST Global Challenge in Dubai. Due to all preceding accomplishments, Team Hope captured international attention and gained fame as it was welcomed in Washington D.C at the White House, the House of Representatives, and the United States Congress and was highlighted by prominent newspapers and social media platforms such as Washington Post, the Guardian, and NowThis.

“Hope is born from the womb of suffering”; this phrase truly describes the journey of Team Hope and other refugee students who defeated the bitterness of the war and the deteriorating living conditions to prove resilience and inspire all vulnerable children around the world. Team Hope was able to reform the perception regarding refugees from dependent individuals to independent and capable ambassadors of hope and willing change-makers who are thriving to rebuild their country again.

Team Members

Haitham Jamour is a 15 years old high school student. He is very passionate about robotics so he decided to join the robotics team. Haitham hopes one day that he becomes a successful computer engineer that his country would be proud of.

Ahmad Al Sharbaji is a 17 years old high school student. He enjoys working on robots because he believes that everything depends on technology and programming to function. Ahmad perceives the robotics domain as an opportunity to improve his mechanics skills which will prepare him to continue his higher education in mechanical engineering.

Zeinab Ali Al-Zarkan is a 9th grade student. She is very interested in understanding how robots function and how they are designed. She sees value in this domain as it encourages individuals to innovate and come up with solutions to many common and pressing problems. Zeinab is also passionate about drawing and designing and she hopes to become a fashion designer in the future.

Alaa Qaisanieh is a secondary school student who loves acquiring knowledge and motivating others to think outside the box, which motivated her to join the robotics team. Alaa considers that working in the robotics domain represents an opportunity for Syrian refugees to break the stigma and prove that they are incapable and ambitious people.

Ahmad Al-Daba is a 16 years old high school student. Ahmad joined the robotics domain because he enjoys working on designing robots and he believes that this domain can be invested well to address many problems that countries are pasing through around the world. Ahmad’s interest in robotics and science drives him to consider pursuing a degree in computer engineering in the future.

Jihan fakous is an 8th grader student. Jihan thrives to learn new things and be the best version of herself to show the world the beautiful picture of refugees who are dedicated, resilient, and brilliant. Jihan always dreams to become an engineer in the future to help in rebuilding her beloved country again.

Shahd Al-Mrayati is a 10th-grade school student. She is trying to invest in her knowledge and skills by engaging in the robotics field. In addition, she considers STEM education through robotics the first step into building her future and becoming an expert computer engineer.

Shahd Haj Mousa is a 9th-grade student. Shahd is interested to learn about robotics and perceives engaging in this domain as an opportunity to empower the youth of her age to become change makers. Despite her love for innovation and robotics, Shahd dreams to be a successful doctor in the future to save as many lives as she can.

Abdullah Al-Nasser is a 10th-grade student. He is very interested in digging deeper into the robotics field to reach his aim of joining NASA in the future.

Tasneem Misho is an 8th-grade student. She is very happy engaging in the robotics club and she values this domain as it has taught her how to think logically and in a critical way. Tasneem wishes that one day she will become a programmer or a professor and teach in one of the top prestigious universities.

Lana Al-Sabbagh is an 8th-grade student who is very interested in learning robotics and she aims at pursuing a university degree in informational technology.

Leen Ahmad Misho is an 8th-grade student who feels joyful and entertained working in robotics with her teammates. Leen has a high ambition of being an architect in the future.

Youmna Alhalabi is in 9th-grade student who entertained working in robotics, she will become a programmer.

Team Media

Thank you to our supporters!