Youth’s Nation-Building Award
Mohamad Al Jounde (Lebanese)
Founder of Gharsah School
Mohamad Al Jounde grew up in Syria but fled for Lebanon during the repression of the Syrian revolution . As a refugee, he would not get education so when he was12 years old, he decided to set up a school in the refugee camp by enlisting his relatives and volunteers to build buildings and also teach other refugee children. After 3 years, the school had more than 200 students, with several professional teachers, and adult education on relevant subjects like literacy and gender equality. He has also helped children traumatized by war by offering them psychosocial support through friendly play and photography lessons. And as a natural storyteller, raising awareness about the challenges facing refugee children by bringing their stories to a wider audience.
Mohamad Al Jounde is a role model of a young person who amidst unfortunate sitation, rose up and went out to help others.