Paper Airplanes-Language and Skills Accessibility for Refugees

Paper Airplanes is a digital solution to refugee education access, providing personalized tutoring through Skype. It focuses on English, Turkish, and computer coding courses for refugees, fostering cross-cultural dialogue. The organization, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit, has 21 unpaid staff and hundreds of volunteers, serving over 1,000 students.

Project Stage

Scaling

Implementation time

1-3 years

Last update: October 05, 2023

Overview Contributors

Challenge

Emerging as a response to the Syrian crisis, Paper Airplanes addresses the educational needs of refugees in crisis areas, particularly in the MENA region. With tens of millions of displaced communities, the absence of educational opportunities could have serious security and stability consequences.

Description

Paper Airplanes operates mainly through Skype, providing a major focus on English education due to its importance in higher education and employment. Students and tutors apply online, are matched by staff, and engage in 10-week instructional periods. The program includes diagnostic, midterm, and final exams for students, and additional test-specific resources like TOEFL and IELTS training. The initiative also includes pilot programs for Turkish tutoring, youth exchange, and women in coding.

SDGs

Outcomes

Over 1000 students served, with high satisfaction rates (80% for students, 98% for tutors). The program has grown from 10 to over 325 students per term, and helped tutors develop mentorship and leadership skills.