Syrian Refugees: Arts Crafts and Day Camp

syrian refugees: The fun and games at this day camp are more than just a rite of passage for these new Canadians, they're a key step in easing their transition into a strange country with unfamiliar customs, according to CTV. H.appi Camper founder Mazen El-Baba says he tried to design a getaway that would offer the staples of any typical North American summer camp: drama, arts and crafts, and sports. It takes a moment for the middle-schoolers to grasp this peculiar game, but three tries later, they gel into a more-or-less unified chorus. "Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Weeeeeeee're great!" they holler, letting loose with exuberant cheers. But it would also offer much-needed lessons tailored to the specific needs of young Syrian refugees: intensive literacy classes, a crash course in Canadian cultural norms, and self-esteem exercises. El-Baba says it hard to know exactly how these kids are suffering because they have not been formally diagnosed with behavioural or mental-health issues. That last goal is possibly the most challenging, given the fact that most of these war-weary children -- 75 in all, ranging in age from five to 15 -- have been through horrific traumas. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.