Beyond Borders
We envision a world where no border restricts access to an education that transforms lives through Christ’s love.
The problem:
With war, conflict, and persecution on the rise globally, the number of displaced people around the globe has doubled over the last decade. An estimated 79.5 million people have been forced to flee from their homes this year. Of that number, nearly 26 million are currently refugees who leave because of conflict and persecution. More than half of these refugees are under 18. Globally, 1% of our population is displaced. (unhcr.org)
The problem compounded:
Unfortunately, fleeing one dangerous location doesn’t always mean the new location, which is often a makeshift camp of tents or substandard shelters, is any better. Rapes, beatings, suicide, rampant gang problems, and limited resources make daily life in a refugee camp feel like prison or worse. Education and health services for children are either limited or non-existent; school – which could provide help for the future and offer stability – is not a possibility for nearly 4 million refugee children. The global pandemic has only exacerbated these problems. (unhcr.org)
Can these problems be addressed?
This is an overwhelming task, but it’s not too big for God. In fact, all throughout history God has been working through the movement of people who have experienced displacement and oppression. Like the Biblical story of Joseph demonstrates, God works in and through those who are displaced. God can use education to extend love, bring healing, transform individuals and communities, and provide opportunities and hope for the future.
Our mission is to extend Christ’s love beyond borders, providing transformational education with those who are displaced.
Where we work:
LESVOS, GREECE: We partner with Euro Relief, a non-government organization (NGO) to support the provision of educational activities to families and children awaiting asylum on the island of Lesvos. Students learn English through a trauma informed, peace building approach that incorporates expressive arts and seeks to help children "learn to heal and heal to learn". Our goal is to create safety, belonging, resilience, and healing through learning.
INTERNATIONAL CURRICULUM TEAM: We are always looking for people passionate about equipping teachers with good materials for their students. Our curriculum team works remotely from various countries creating EFL materials as well as other relevant resources for our trauma informed Learn to Heal curriculum.
The Method:
Reach. We equip Christian Educators, administrators, and staff – with a heart for relationship and a call to live out the Good News – to those who are displaced with educational solutions that support learning and healing.
Teach. We partner with organizations to train, equip, and resource teachers and volunteers to impact their communities.
Transform. We believe that education is an effective catalyst bringing hope to individuals and positive transformation to societies. We believe lives are transformed when people encounter the love of Christ.
Learn to Heal, Heal to Learn. Our education services are designed to help those who have gone through trauma and displacement. We believe the process of learning is healing in and of itself, thus our learning programs and environments are designed to promote both healing and learning.
The concept behind Learn to Heal, Heal to Learn comes from the multi-disciplinary study of education, language acquisition, neuroscience, trauma-informed care and expressive arts therapy. The wholistic approach to education, involving music, visual art, theatre, play and general creativity, is a response to the cycle that trauma-sufferers often find themselves in. The brain’s response to trauma limits and at times prevents people from functioning and learning in precisely the ways that help them move on and live as whole-people. The parts of our brains that help us learn, make informed decisions and think critically are the same areas that “shut-down” in response to fight, flight, or freeze signals.
In contrast, the cycle of Learn to Heal, Heal to Learn seeks to use trauma-informed practices that simultaneously promote healing and learning, resulting in the education’s healing and learning components being integrated to the extent that they are indistinguishable.
How we partner:
How we partner. We seek to partner with local communities and churches whenever possible, supporting their educational goals by co-creating educational solutions. We provide people, programs, education and resources to better meet the needs of students and communities.
How our program is unique. We acknowledge trauma has an impact on learning and the importance of incorporating play, art, movement, beauty, community, and creativity extensively in our education programs to aid the body, spirit, and mind to heal. To this end, we hold to guiding principles that are a framework for our educational practice. Our guiding principles and methods support a student to begin the process of healing necessary to acquire new knowledge and skills to become all a person is intended to be.
To learn more about our perspective on Transformational Education, our TeachBeyond Distinctive, and TeachBeyond Values, click here.
Support the work of Beyond Borders by standing in the GAPS
Give: Support Beyond Borders projects globally by using the box to the right.
Advocate: Tell others about our work.
Pray: Pray for our students, our staff, and our work. Sign up for a regular prayer blast about ways you can pray for the work of Beyond Borders.
Serve: Find out about the ways you can work full- or part-time with Beyond Borders. Fill out the inquiry form or contact us at: [email protected].