My Perspective:
The refugee crisis is not just an issue of immigration but an issue of poverty and identity. In fact, refugees deal with these kinds difficulties on a daily basis. Furthermore, the few who manage to gain asylum in a new place are likely to leave families and friends behind who are still dealing with these difficulties.
The issues which child refugees experience are broad and significant. To begin with, a few of the issues dealt with by child refugees are surrounded by the lack of basic needs due to scarcity of resources. Other issues include psychological trauma and being prone to addiction, crime and health issues. Fundamentally, refugee children battle so many unbelievable challenges and at the same loose access to what is most important for their future- their education. Without an education many of refugees will continue fighting the battle of poverty. According to economists, the poverty cycle can only be escaped through education.
Sky School’s aim is to give students the access to secondary education. Moreover, a diploma establishing one’s secondary education unlocks the doors tertiary education. May it be that the refugees gain access to tertiary education, universities will yield students who are motivated to not only succeed in their courses but are also motivated to bring change to the world around them.
Author: Aastha Trivedi
The Perspective of ONE (Organisation)
Todd, Eloise. “The Importance of Refugee Education.” ONE, 11 Nov. 2016, www.one.org/us/2016/07/26/the-importance-of-refugee-education/.
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Last year, over 34,000 people were forced to leave their homes every day due to violence, persecution, and conflict. Unprecedented levels of forced displacement have caused a global migration and refugee crisis, but world leaders have failed to come up with any long-term solutions. There are an estimated 21.3 million refugees around the world, and many find themselves in limbo for years, denied the rights they need to become self-sufficient and restart their lives. Refugees need practical and fast paths to integrate into new societies. This begins with quality education.
Education is not only a fundamental right; it is one of the most valuable assets a refugee can have. Refugee children and adolescents who are integrated into national school systems build lasting friendships with local children, learn languages, and develop vital skills they need to sustain themselves and their families. For refugee children, school can be a safe place where they can learn and play—basic necessities for any child growing up, but especially important for those that have been torn from their homes and seen the horrors of war.
But despite the crucial role that education plays for refugee communities, it is ignored by aid donors and governments. Only 2% of funding in emergencies is dedicated to education. As a result, there are approximately 3.7 million refugee children out of school. The impact of this is devastating, with children easily falling victim to exploitation or forced to work to earn money for their households. Some families resort to child marriages in order to survive, causing as many as 90% of girls to drop out in some areas.
Unfortunately, 86% of refugees are hosted by developing countries that are already facing tight budgets, and the scale of the crisis has strained their limited resources. Refugee children often face legal barriers to enrollment, and schools are not properly equipped to handle the large influx of students. To get these refugee children access to education, these countries need more teachers, more schools, and more capacity to deal with the cultural, mental and physical health needs of these children.
Children fleeing conflict are the most susceptible to violence and abuse, and education is often a lifesaving intervention that offers protection and preserves their futures. Education is a basic human right, and without the chance to study, we risk losing an entire generation of children when the solution is in our hands.
At this September’s two refugee summits, world leaders must deliver a credible plan to provide all refugee children with quality education, with at least one million reached by the end of this school year.
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The Perspective of Muslim Aid (Blog)
“Why Education Is so Important for Refugee Children.” Muslim Aid, www.muslimaid.org/media-centre/news/why-education-is-so-important-for-refugee-children/.
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WHY EDUCATION IS SO IMPORTANT FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN
Children always have it worst when it comes disasters, be it natural or man-made. Take the four year long Syria Crisis, for example. According to UNICEF USA, almost six and a half million Syrian children have been affected by the conflict that has left scores of people dead, and many more displaced from their homes. Almost three million people are no longer in school, and one million are living as refugees in neighboring countries. It’s statistics like these that prompted Muslim Aid to conduct a massive relief aid campaign in the region. Our child sponsorship program has been able to provide shelter for these children with clothes to keep them warm, and books to keep them hopeful.
Hope is a very strong human emotion that ultimately leads people to do great things. In such dreadful times, it must be ensured that these children do not lose hope of a better tomorrow, and the best way to do that is through education. In today’s post, we will highlight why it is so important that these children should be given sufficient opportunities to learn and get an education. We will also talk about why this is the best form of aid for them.
Education is the Key to Being Truly Independent
A book is the key to being truly free and independent. An education will provide children with the tools they need to succeed in life. It will also teach them good values that they can not only adopt, but also preach to others when they get on their feet. Uneducated children have no skill set. They end up living the refugee life forever. Books provide them with an alternate solution to do something with their life and make themselves matter.
Don’t Become Part of the Statistic
We mentioned earlier how almost three million children have no access to schools. These innocent lives are at risk of being lost forever if they are not given proper care. An educated mind looks for a solution and makes one. An uneducated mind will only take what is offered and accept it. Children who don’t get educated or trained with tradecraft, mainly stay refugee for the rest of their life; therefore becoming nothing more than a statistic. An education will ensure that doesn’t happen. In fact, it can have a positive impact and curb it down.
Opportunity to Become Leaders of their Community
So many children who received child sponsorship have gone on to become leaders in their communities. They have witnessed the brutalities of war, hunger, and poverty first hand; yet they emerged successfully. They have shared their story with others and helped them do the same. These children will flourish to become successful men and women who in turn will do their part in promoting good education and healthy living.
Child sponsorship goes farther than any aid packet. A food ration will enable a child to see tomorrow. An education, on the other hand, will pave the way for the next ten years. Make a donation to Muslim Aid’s relief aid campaign today!