Zaroua, 12, is originally from Karmakoira, a village about 100km from Ouallam in Niger. Her father, Moussa, is a farmer, and her mother, Ramataou, is a housewife. Zaroua and her family fled their village because of the insecurity, which caused widespread destruction.
Education as a springboard: Zaroua’s journey
After temporarily seeking refuge in a neighbouring village, Zaoura’s family eventually found safety in Ouallam, where a host family welcomed them warmly in 2021. Until then, Zaoura had never attended school.
Today, with support from the European Union, she is enrolled in primary school for the first time. Thanks to the accelerated schooling programme, which helps children catch up on missed education, Zaroua was able to join the third grade. Her commitment and hard work helped her make rapid progress, though she initially found it difficult to adjust to the classroom environment.
“My parents didn’t have money for school supplies or the fees for fun activities,” she says. “I felt nervous about starting school, and I kept thinking about all the scary things that happened back home. But after a while, I started to feel calmer. The BLP [Better Learning Programme] helped me deal with my feelings and not feel so scared all the time.”
Zaroua’s transition from non-formal to formal education was supported by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). With the help of her teachers, classmates, and a social worker, she gradually gained the confidence to open up, sharing her struggles and aspirations. Her situation improved significantly thanks to the PRESU Sahel project.
“This project really helped my parents. I received school supplies, and I got better at reading and Maths. Before the extra classes I never scored more than four, but now I’m getting an eight,” she says.
Comprehensive support
The Better Learning Programme played a crucial role in Zaroua’s social and emotional wellbeing.
“I gained confidence, made new friends, and bonded more with my teacher,” she says. “Today, I no longer feel stressed.”
NRC also supported Zaroua in obtaining a birth certificate, an essential document for her future.
With these changes, she is starting to feel things she hadn’t in a long time: hope, ambition, and gratitude. For the first time in years, she feels safe, focused on learning, and excited about her future.
Finally, to further enhance her wellbeing, NRC provided Zaroua with hygiene kits, and constructed bathrooms at her school, making it a more comfortable place to be.
After temporarily seeking refuge in a neighbouring village, Zaoura’s family eventually found safety in Ouallam, where a host family welcomed them warmly in 2021. Until then, Zaoura had never attended school.
Today, with support from the European Union, she is enrolled in primary school for the first time. Thanks to the accelerated schooling programme, which helps children catch up on missed education, Zaroua was able to join the third grade. Her commitment and hard work helped her make rapid progress, though she initially found it difficult to adjust to the classroom environment.
“My parents didn’t have money for school supplies or the fees for fun activities,” she says. “I felt nervous about starting school, and I kept thinking about all the scary things that happened back home. But after a while, I started to feel calmer. The BLP [Better Learning Programme] helped me deal with my feelings and not feel so scared all the time.”
Zaroua’s transition from non-formal to formal education was supported by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). With the help of her teachers, classmates, and a social worker, she gradually gained the confidence to open up, sharing her struggles and aspirations. Her situation improved significantly thanks to the PRESU Sahel project.
“This project really helped my parents. I received school supplies, and I got better at reading and Maths. Before the extra classes I never scored more than four, but now I’m getting an eight,” she says.
Comprehensive support
The Better Learning Programme played a crucial role in Zaroua’s social and emotional wellbeing.
“I gained confidence, made new friends, and bonded more with my teacher,” she says. “Today, I no longer feel stressed.”
NRC also supported Zaroua in obtaining a birth certificate, an essential document for her future.
With these changes, she is starting to feel things she hadn’t in a long time: hope, ambition, and gratitude. For the first time in years, she feels safe, focused on learning, and excited about her future.
Finally, to further enhance her wellbeing, NRC provided Zaroua with hygiene kits, and constructed bathrooms at her school, making it a more comfortable place to be.
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