Two months later, I returned to Za’atari to run our first coding course. We opted to teach Scratch because of its user-friendly interface and Arabic language conversion. After a two-day program, the children produced and presented social impact games. Our work in Za’atari opened a door into an expanded relationship with the Scratch Foundation. Dust Astronauts was featured on the Scratch Team blog, and we were invited to join the 2024-2025 Scratch Education Collaborative cohort. We also commenced a working partnership with MIT Media Lab’s Lifelong Kindergarten.

 

This past July, I returned to the camp. Much has changed both technologically and geopolitically since our last visit. The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence has raised new questions about the future of coding. On this visit, we ran a short demonstration showing students how to use AI to supplement their code. We used Replit, a company serendipitously founded by a Jordanian who relocated to San Francisco. The difference in the students’ Scratch projects was striking: this time, their Scratch work featured more robust and interactive code. Every project involved the keyboard, moving beyond simple storytelling to create dynamic games, ranging from tag and football to catching falling fruits in a basket. I documented this visit, and the footage will be developed into another documentary that captures the creativity of these young learners and the unfolding story of refugees preparing for return.

The physical conditions in the camp had changed notably. Everything was quieter, the streets were less crowded, and many of the kids who attended our previous workshops were no longer present. We learned that about 10% of the refugees had returned to Syria, with many others preparing to make the move at the end of the school year. Regional geopolitical events have radically reshaped the lives of these young refugees. In December 2024, Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Damascus collapsed after 24 years in power. World leaders moved to reset relations: in the US, sanctions on Syria ended and the US Embassy reopened in Damascus. These shifts raise pressing questions for the people of Za’atari: will they finally return home? What future awaits them in Syria?

 

All of this comes against the backdrop of major shifts in humanitarian aid. Global aid organizations have cut funding to the camp, shifting resources to more immediate conflicts or to refugee resettlement operations. But for many Syrian families, returning is not so simple. According to UNHCR surveys, 75% of residents in Za’atari say they will not return. Many say there are still no jobs, no homes, and persisting danger in the south. Most children born in Za’atari are stateless, complicating return logistics.

 

We interviewed four residents of Za’atari about returning to Syria. One boy was born in Syria but left when he was still an infant. He said that he and his brother will return to Syria in two weeks, and that he was not at all nervous. A girl we spoke to who was born in Za’atari was more cautious. She expressed her desire to return to Syria someday, but only if the groundwork is laid for her and others to have a real future there. She pleaded with us to help send aid to Syria. Other children in the camp asked questions that reveal how different their reality is from the world outside — one asked if they would still need permission to travel around Syria as they do in Jordan.

 

The adults seemed more hesitant. They are realistic about the challenges: destroyed homes, lack of services, and the uncertainty of what awaits. For others, Zaatari has already become home. An older woman told me she has no plans to leave. Her husband passed away in the camp, her sister lives nearby, and she has been here for 12 years.

 

For the kids who do return home, an uncertain future awaits. Our mission remains as critical as ever: using technology to unlock opportunities for those who need it most. I will never forget the hopes and dreams these children shared. Many asked us to continue our coding program in Syria. We will look to arrange a trip to visit our former students in Syria once it is safe to do so, and link our alumni with mentors and employers. Dust Astronauts will continue to operate in Za’atari and follow the progress of our former refugee students. We’ll expand geographically to other refugee camps and other groups in urgent need to access Tech-enabled economic opportunities, and further integrate new innovations in AI and co-pilot coding to ensure they stay ahead of the current rapid shifts in technology. The future is challenging, but bright.