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.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, according to National Observer. 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. 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. 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. But they clearly bear the scars. 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. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.