The UNHCR estimates that 3.7 million refugee children do not attend school because of various challenges. These include language barriers, financial struggles and the need to assist their families which requires them to seek employment from a young age. For those who can attend classes, there is a strong possibility they will leave school without graduating. The report further states that only 22% of refugee children complete school while it’s estimated 1% will proceed to university. Various organisations are now working to provide alternative ways of accessing education for refugee children. Continue reading to find out how this refugee youth demographic is getting educated.
Instant Network Schools (INS)is a online network that was created by the Vodafone Foundation to provide selected refugee educational facilities and community centres with a digital box. The box consists of a computer or tablet equipped with learning materials, solar powered batteries and access to a satellite or mobile network. Teachers receive IT support and training. So far, INS has been successful in African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Above: A glimpse at the work the Instant Network Schools is doing within refugee camps.
Immigrant youth integration in host countries
Seattle World School is a secondary school (grade 6 – 12), which caters to newly arrived immigrants and refugees. The aim of the school is to assist youth to learn English and to provide medical, nutritional and behavioural counselling for young people trying to adapt to their new reality. The school has 350 students from 20 countries who speak 38 languages.
Above: Seattle World School in action
Teacher training in refugee camps
Situated in the Central African Republic and Eastern Chad, Little Ripples is an organisation that provides training for 101 teachers. The organisation empowers pre-school teachers in refugee camps to create curricula and learning tools so as to create a positive classroom environment for the young refugees in their early childhood years (ages 3-5).
Above: Little Ripples empowering mothers and women within refugee camps
Flux Trends’ experts are available for comment and interviews. For all media enquiries please contact Tshepo Narvis on info@fluxtrends.co.za
We have a Transhumanism Open Session in Cape Town on 8th of August 2018.
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Image credit: UNICEF AND MASHABLE AND Crosscut AND iActivism
Video credit: Vodafone Foundation AND KCTS9 and iACT
