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 30 Congolese refugee communities to
provide early childhood development education for their youngest children,
aiming to reach 10,000 children by the end of 2023.
BYAMUKAMA DAVID is 5 years old and a pupil at one of the early learning centres we support in Kymagabo in Kyaka II. Prior to lockdown, Byamukama’s class was learning in a tent, but they can now look forward to learning in a brand new building, with two classrooms when the centres are allowed to open again. Byamukama’s mother has been supporting her son with home learning using the resources provided by our learning centres. His mother says, “My son can’t wait to go back to school; he says their school has now changed and is looking completely new, and he keeps asking about the date they will go back. He can’t wait to go back to study in the classrooms and catch up with his friends”. |
WORKING ON 'THE EDGE' IN KYAKA II, UGANDA
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WHAT WE DO TO HELP
In the Kyaka II refugee camp in Uganda, 30 refugee communities, mostly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, are being supported to deliver high quality, cost effective Early Childhood Development (ECD) provision, in safe spaces, to thousands of children aged 3-6 years. This education and support will ensure they have the best possible start in life and are enabled to thrive.
Early Childhood Development (ECD) includes services and programmes to support, care for, and nurture children in the early years of life (aged 0 - 5 years). Providing opportunities for learning and play, along with supporting children's health and nutrition help to create a protective environment for children and support their development at the most vital time in their life. This can be done within an ECD Centre, or in informal settings within a community.
We are resourcing these 30 communities in Kyaka II to own and manage ECD provision for their own children, both now and into the future. We are working alongside them to rebuild or renovate 30 existing ECD Centres which will be used to support over 3,500 children aged 3-6. Each centre is run by a Centre Management Committees, made up of local residents who receive training on management and administration, as well as child rights, child protection, and the developmental needs of young children.
Local refugees are trained as teachers so that children can learn from familiar, trusted adults, in their own dialect. These teachers learn on certified courses and have the opportunity to apply for small business loans to help them generate sustainable incomes.
Early Childhood Development (ECD) includes services and programmes to support, care for, and nurture children in the early years of life (aged 0 - 5 years). Providing opportunities for learning and play, along with supporting children's health and nutrition help to create a protective environment for children and support their development at the most vital time in their life. This can be done within an ECD Centre, or in informal settings within a community.
We are resourcing these 30 communities in Kyaka II to own and manage ECD provision for their own children, both now and into the future. We are working alongside them to rebuild or renovate 30 existing ECD Centres which will be used to support over 3,500 children aged 3-6. Each centre is run by a Centre Management Committees, made up of local residents who receive training on management and administration, as well as child rights, child protection, and the developmental needs of young children.
Local refugees are trained as teachers so that children can learn from familiar, trusted adults, in their own dialect. These teachers learn on certified courses and have the opportunity to apply for small business loans to help them generate sustainable incomes.
As the 30 Early Childhood Development buildings we support cannot come close to accommodating the number of children who need early years learning and support in these communities, a new pilot project began in 2021. This approach offers an hour’s ‘cluster group’ learning on a weekly basis - under trees, in people’s homes and in communal spaces, to eventually enable thousands more children to access education and play within the refugee settlements.
The project will also train and inspire parents to nurture and teach their children each day at home. Currently, 896 children are taking part in the pilot programme in 10 designated cluster points within two refugee communities- Buliti and Mukondo. After the six month pilot we aim to gradually increase the number of children learning in clusters to 6,500, while another 3,500 continue to learn at the centres. Throughout lockdown, over 6,500 children have been supported to learn with home education packs. |
Whether inside colourful centres or outdoors in ‘cluster groups’, each learning space is a safe environment, with a quality bespoke curriculum delivered in the childrens’ own language from trained, trusted teachers, using colourful learning resources. The overall aim of this programme is to establish complete community ownership, independence and sustainability.
Watch our Project Officer, Philip and CEO Rachel Bentley talking about our Early Years Education Programme in Kyaka II, Uganda
Watch more videos about our work in Kyaka II on our YouTube channel
YOU MIGHT LIKE
READ ABOUT THE FIRST EVER GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR REFUGEE TEACHERS IN KYAKA II
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READ ABOUT JOSEPH WHOSE HOPE AND DETERMINATION SECURED A NEW SCHOOL BUILDING FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN IN UGANDA
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WATCH HOW OUR INNOVATIVE NEW 'CLUSTER GROUP' PILOT PROJECT IS REACHING MORE CHILDREN
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READ ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM UGANDA ON OUR BLOG >>
The work we support in Kyaka II, Uganda is kindly funded by Players of People's Postcode Lottery.