Education for Congolese Refugee Children in Uganda

Uganda is host to the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world where hundreds
of thousands of people are fleeing conflict and human rights abuses in the
neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Thousands of Congolese refugee children living in Kyaka II refugee settlement
are lacking early years education and support at a crucial time in their life.

Children on the Edge are supporting refugee communities here to
provide early years education for thousands of their youngest children.

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5,000 CHILDREN ACCESSING LEARNING & SUPPORT

191 TRAINED EARLY YEARS TEACHERS

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200 ACTIVE CLUSTER LEARNING GROUPS

Our work with Congolese refugee children is generously supported by funds raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery, and awarded by Postcode Education Trust, who are committed to improving the quality of education through innovation.

Muhorana John a young man from the DRC is wearing a green graduation cap and gown at an outside ceremony in Uganda. He smiling and standing with his fellow graduates.

BIENEME is a 4-year-old Congolese refugee, who was born with hydrocephalus (a buildup of fluid on the brain). As a result of his condition, Bieneme regularly loses consciousness, cannot walk without support, and has difficulties learning, which has left him very isolated, especially from learning.

Once his started coming to Cluster Learning, he made friends, enjoyed 'free choice play’, and teachers developed bespoke learning materials for his learning style and abilities.

Bieneme’s motor skills, along with his social and emotional development have come on in leaps and bounds. He now ‘feels loved by the other children who play with him and help him to walk when he gets stuck’.

READ BIENEME'S STORY

WORKING ON 'THE EDGE' IN KYAKA II, UGANDA

Uganda is host to an estimated 1.5 million refugees and asylum seekers; a quarter of them feeling conflict, disease and human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The DRC is one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century, yet receives little media attention.
Home to over 125,000 Congolese refugees; Kyaka II settlement in Uganda is well beyond its intended capacity.
Over 65% of arrivals in Kyaka II are children, many of whom have witnessed horrific violence and lost family members.
Children face serious child protection risks and have few safe places to go during the day, particularly the youngest children aged 0-6. They need special attention.
Services in Uganda are overstretched and thousands of children living in Kyaka II refugee settlement are lacking early years education and support at a crucial time in their development.

A dusty street in Kyaka II settlement. There are makeshift houses and shelters lining the road and lots of green trees. Congolese refugees are gathered in small groups along the side of the road. You can click on the image to read more about the issues is Kyaka II

WHAT WE DO TO HELP

In the Kyaka II refugee camp in Uganda, refugee communities from the Democratic Republic of Congo, are being supported to deliver high quality, cost effective Early Childhood Development (ECD) provision, in safe spaces for 5,000 children aged 3-6 years. This education and support will ensure they have the best possible start in life and are enabled to thrive.

Cluster Learning Group in action - PC Theirworld/Mara Mambo Media

Our award winning Cluster Learning Approach is a sustainable, cost effective early education model that creates access to quality learning for thousands of refugee children.

Instead of being limited to buildings, lessons are arranged in small groups, wherever the children are, in people's homes and compounds, shaded areas around local churches, and under trees.

With trained refugee early years teachers, and strong parental and community ownership, this sustainable model is ensuring that early years learning is permanently accessible for all children, removing barriers of finance, language, culture, ethnicity, disability and location.

find out more about OUR Cluster Learning Approach