THE EDGE IN BANGLADESH
Slum dwelling Bangladeshi and Rohingya children are cut off from education and the chance to enjoy their childhoods
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In Bangladesh, poverty is at a level where there are as many as 3.45 million working children. The magnitude, longevity and escalation of the Rohingya refugee crisis has also placed an additional burden on host communities. Slum dwelling children in Cox’s Bazar face financial and practical barriers to attending mainstream school and commonly have to work to contribute to the income of their families. Faced with harassment, lack of opportunities, and the threat of deportation, many Rohingya have moved inland from the heavily-monitored border to ‘enclave communities’ in the Doharazi area. Children here are entirely cut off from basic services. Children in both Cox's Bazar and the Doharazi enclaves are in danger of exploitation, trafficking and growing up without any chance of an education. |
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WHAT WE ARE DOING TO HELP
Flexible education and support for 1,400 children in Cox's Bazar and Doharazi Enclave Communities
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Together with our partner Mukti, we are delivering a high quality curriculum to 1,400 slum dwelling children through 18 classrooms within Cox’s Bazar slums and 10 classrooms in the Doharazi Rohingya enclaves. Our programme has developed a flexible model to meet the educational needs of these children, whilst working closely with their families to foster greater understanding of the importance of education. Each Learning Centre has one teacher who instructs two classes (morning and afternoon) of 25 students each. Teachers are trained from within the communities and classes follow the government-approved curriculum, equipping them for a future transition to mainstream school. Classes cover literacy, writing, maths and science and the standard curriculum is augmented with a strong focus on creative expression and play. A day each week is assigned entirely for games, gardening, art, dance and sports. |
We provide students with the opportunity to wash and receive a school uniform and book bag, giving them a sense of pride and belonging. They receive a nutritious snack each day and regular health supplements. Children express their views and the views of their peers through Child Councils who shape the project, influence their communities, create a quarterly student newsletter and run their own activities. These Centres are enthusiastically supported by both the local communities and government officials and their development over ten years has lead to the creation of a best practice model, which is used to ensure standards in our work on the borders with Rohingya refugee children. |
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Lika (right) is 11 years old and lives in Cox's Bazar. Her father hasn’t been able to walk since suffering TB four years ago and the family ended up with no income source. To make ends meet, Lika makes oyster necklaces with her mother to add some income, but this was not enough to send her to school.
In 2014 one of our Learning Centres opened near her house and she enrolled. She is now in class four and doing brilliantly. Her mother says “Mukti and Children on the Edge are doing a fantastic job of spreading the light of education". |
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LATEST STORIES
New Enclave ClassroomsTen new classrooms in the Doharazi enclaves ensure education for 500 unreached Rohingya children.
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Child councils lead the wayChildren are expressing themselves and changing their communities through child councils in Cox's Bazar.
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A focus on playRead how weekly play days create fun for schools and child-led change in local communities.
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