ULYP invited 7 Lebanese children, 7 Palestinian refugee children, and 7 Iraqi refugee children together for an 8 day retreat of teambuilding, cooperation, and trust activities. On the last day, the children invited their families, teachers, and other community members to the ULYP campus for a celebration picnic and a presentation performed by the children, demonstrating the culmination of what they’ve learned together during the 8 days. The ULYP retreat has left all of us with new friendships, two with secret romantic crushes, and most with … watery eyes.

Stay tuned for the ULYP "pusher curriculum" that joins these same children back together to help sustain newly made friendships, encourage continued contact outside of ULYP, and to process a bit more with the children about what they've learned.