Education as a Lifeline for Displaced Syrian Children

As a trustee of the Source of Hope Foundation, Stephen K. Robert reaches out to distressed populations in various countries, including those affected by war. Stephen Robert has supported initiatives to assist displaced children in the Za’atari and Azraq refugee camps in Jordan.

The Syrian conflict has forced many citizens to seek refuge in neighboring nations. Jordan, in particular, has accommodated over half a million refugees in Za’atari and Azraq camps. These refugees encounter various challenges and rely heavily on humanitarian assistance. The most vulnerable in this group are children, who face health concerns, hazardous living conditions, and limited access to education.

International nonprofit organizations such as UNICEF and Relief International have ongoing efforts to ensure displaced Syrian children access to education. These organizations construct and equip classrooms, recruit teachers, and train them in inclusive education. Relief International has established childhood development centers to offer childcare services.

In addition to UNICEF and Relief International, other humanitarian aid organizations, such as the Source of Hope Foundation, offer programs that support education, arts, and mental health for children affected by war. The organizations provide direct funding to teachers, coaches, and professionals actively involved in educational activities and helping children cope with their circumstances.

Author: stephenrobertny

Stephen Robert co-founded Source of Hope to promote educational, occupational, and health initiatives to those in need of aid. With a global outreach, the organization works directly or in partnership with other charities to foster opportunities in the United States and abroad. With a mission statement of helping those in “desperate need,” Source of Hope provides necessary funds and develops programs such as the construction of aquifers, clinics, and educational facilities. The organization was established by Stephen Robert and his wife Pilar Crespi Robert and focuses on projects that advance the future of the communities it serves. A graduate of Brown University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Stephen Robert continues to work on behalf of the school. In recognition of his history of service, the Corporation of Brown University in 1988 elected him to the position of Chancellor. The position, which he held for nearly a decade, required him to oversee many of the university’s planning and development plans. He remains active in its activities as a member of the Board of Overseers of the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University. A former Director of Xerox and the NAC Reinsurance Corporation, Stephen Robert currently serves on the Board of Directors of the NEXAR Capital Group. Prior to his retirement in 2008, he held the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Institutional Management LLC, an investment firm that advises high net-worth and institutional investment clients. For nearly 30 years, Stephen Robert worked at Oppenheimer and Company. He rose through the firm’s ranks from the position of Portfolio Manager of the Oppenheimer Fund to that of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. In 1986, he participated in a management buyout that made him the principal owner of the 105-year-old Oppenheimer & Company. He stepped down from the post of Chairman and CEO in 1997 after selling the firm to the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.