For children growing up amid conflict and crisis, staying in school is not always simple. Damaged classrooms, not enough desks, missed lessons and fear can all become barriers to learning.
Protecting education, protecting futures
With support from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and partners are working to remove some of these barriers. By improving learning spaces, supporting teachers, providing catch-up classes and helping schools become safer and more welcoming, children will be able to return to education. The programme reaches more than 28,700 students in vulnerable areas of Ta'iz and Al Hodeidah in Yemen.
A seat
When there is nowhere to sit, learning becomes harder.
In crowded classrooms, something as basic as having a desk can make a difference. New classrooms and durable desks are helping schools create more space for children to learn.
A teacher
Teachers need the tools and support to teach children affected by crisis.
When children have missed months or years of learning, teachers need more than a curriculum. Training and support help them respond to children living with disruption, learning gaps and the pressures of crisis.
A safe space
For children living through conflict, a functioning school can provide more than education. It can provide stability, protection and a place to feel secure.
In Yemen, schools are being supported not only through physical improvements, but also through measures that strengthen safety, preparedness and children's wellbeing.
A second chance
Missing school should not mean losing the chance to learn.
For children who have fallen behind, remedial classes offer a way to catch up, rebuild confidence and continue their education. More than 2,200 at-risk students are receiving targeted support with reading, writing and mathematics.
A clearer future
The goal is not simply to repair a school. It is to help children stay in school, keep learning, and see a future beyond the crisis.
Since Ruqayyah got her new glasses, she has been able to see the blackboard clearly and can read without getting headaches. Now she can learn alongside her classmates.
A school is more than four walls
It is a seat where a child can learn.
A teacher who helps them catch up.
A safe space when the world outside feels uncertain.
A second chance after years lost to crisis.
And, perhaps most importantly, a place where a child can begin to imagine what comes next.
With support from Education Cannot Wait, NRC and partners are helping children in Yemen stay connected to education — and to their futures.
*Name has been changed to protect identity.
