Syrian parents worry about preserving their culture

[The Scan] [Their kids in Turkey might stop learning in Arabic.] December 27 — Tuesday Hundreds of thousands of Syrian schoolchildren are living outside of refugee camps in Turkey, displaced by their country's civil war. A third of them are attending school in temporary education centers run by the Turkish Ministry of Education and funded by UNICEF. Syrian parents are concerned about their children learning in Arabic, which may not happen if Turkey decides to shut down the temporary education centers. During the civil war in Guatemala, many Mayan women lost loved ones and suffered sexual abuse and other atrocities. These women had to find ways to keep going in the ensuing years; the story of Anne Frank helped some of them to come forward and tell their stories, which have been written about in a book, "Voices Breaking Through the Silence in Utatlan." By 2025, there could be a huge medical shortage in the US. That's one reason Linda Brubaker, of the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola, advocates for undocumented medical students to continue their studies under DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. But some worry President-elect Donald Trump will dismantle the program. Journalist Constance Hale says creative people in Hawaii are finding ways to do something new with a very old art: hula. It's become intertwined with protest movements there. And, find out how backyard "carbon farms" could help the environment. Read on for more. [Syrian parents in Turkey worry their kids are losing their culture] Hundreds of thousands of Syrian children are attending temporary Syrian schools in Turkey, where they learn in Arabic. But the country is considering a plan to have them attend Turkish schools only. [Halfway through med school, undocumented students worry Trump will derail their progress] The medical school at Loyola University is trying to keep its students in the program. Their skills, languages and cultural diversity are needed in health care, they say. [The next generation takes a dance from Hawaiian history into the future] Journalist Constance Hale's new book is about a Hawaiian renaissance — told through hula. [Some advice for starting your own backyard 'carbon farm'] A "carbon farming" expert explains how smart perennial planting can help your garden sequester more carbon, and produce more food. [Anne Frank's diary inspired some victims of Guatemala's civil war to tell their stories] Guatemala’s civil war ended 20 years ago, on Dec. 29, 1996. The conflict between rebel groups and state security forces lasted nearly four decades and took an estimated 200,000 lives — the great majority of them indigenous Mayans. It was especially hard on Mayan women, who lost loved ones, suffered sexual abuse and other atrocities, and have had to find new ways to survive and move forward in the ensuing years. Enjoying The Scan? Forward it to a friend! And if you're not getting it daily, it’s easy to subscribe. [Sign up here]. We also love feedback, so please [tell us how we're doing]. Today's newsletter was written by Anna Pratt. Find her on Twitter: [@annapratt.] [GlobalPost] [PRI] [Edit your subscription] | [Unsubscribe] The Scan is brought to you by GlobalPost and PRI - Public Radio International.