How emergency education is helping refugee children
Since fighting began in Sudan’s capital Khartoum on 15 April 2023, over 180,000 people have fled over the border to South Sudan. Most have come from the Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions, with a smaller number from other parts of Sudan.
The border areas are extremely remote, with little infrastructure. For this reason, people have been quickly moved on from the border areas to transit centres which have now been established in the towns of Renk (Upper Nile state), Rotriak (Unity) and Wedwill (Northern Bahr el Ghazal).
Thousands of refugees are currently staying in the transit centre at Wedwill. They have fled the conflict in Sudan, many arriving with only what they could carry. Some refugees have experienced violence, looting of their possessions, and loss of loved ones.
NRC and other humanitarian agencies are present on the ground, responding to people’s urgent needs such as protection, shelter, water, sanitation – and education.
Education saves lives
For children who have experienced trauma, NRC uses an “education in emergencies” approach, with activities aimed at improving their psychosocial wellbeing. Education helps children to restore their sense of routine and normality, enabling them to avoid risky behaviours.
Many children at the centre have expressed a desire to go back to school.
“I miss going to my school and seeing my friends. We have all run in separate directions because of the war,” says seven-year-old Zarah Athief.
Zarah was in grade 5 before she and her family fled to South Sudan after the conflict broke out. She left all her books and other school items back at home. Zarah’s dream is to become a doctor or a teacher when she grows up.
Desperate for their children to continue with their studies, some refugees who were teachers in Sudan have volunteered to give classes to the children at the centre. Many parents have been eager to enrol their children. The classes are held under the trees and NRC has distributed teaching materials such as blackboards and chalk, and learning materials including books, pens, pencils and erasers for the students. The programme has supported nine teachers and 251 students so far, with more children joining the lessons every day.
“We need more education services to be provided for our children in the camp. We also ask to be considered to receive some incentives as volunteer teachers,” says Ustaz Ibrahim Alamin, one of the refugees who has volunteered to teach the children at the camp.
More support is needed
To create a safe and welcoming environment for the children, NRC has started to construct learning spaces. We are also providing psychosocial support activities to improve the wellbeing of children affected by stress and the crisis in their homeland.
These activities are guided by our Better Learning Programme (BLP), which helps children to understand their reactions to fear and stress and provides ways to manage these reactions including easy calming exercises. The BLP prepares children psychologically to go back to school once their families reach a place where they can settle down.
“I appreciate NRC for supporting our desire to continue with education while seeking refuge in South Sudan. I want to become a teacher when I grow up and complete my studies,” says Shaley Billa Alnour. Shaley was in grade 7 before he fled to South Sudan.
More support is urgently needed to provide education services to children fleeing the conflict in Sudan.