Abstract:

Since 2011 and after the eruption of the Syrian war, Lebanon has witnessed the biggest influx of refugees in its modern history. Today the number of registered refugees is almost one million added to a country of four million people. The vast majority of the refugees who live in Lebanon are women and children who underwent severe traumatic conditions because of the war. Several international and local NGOs have worked on the informal education of refugee groups. The paper reports a case study where the researcher developed a local informal education project to empower refugee Syrian women through the use of dance movement therapy (DMT). Using this technique and adapting it to the Arab culture through the use of belly dance music for three months, the study shows that effectiveness of this method as a tool for resilience in war and improving self-esteem. The paper also suggests lesson plans to implement this method informal education sessions and education in emergency.

Keywords:

Informal Education, Dance Movement Therapy, Refugees.