Children on the Edge
  • DONATE
  • WHO WE ARE
    • A Child Rights Approach
    • Meet the team
    • Contact Us
    • Media
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Bangladesh: Education for Rohingya refugee children
    • India: Education for 'untouchable' Dalit children
    • Uganda: Transforming slum communities
    • Uganda: Early Years Education for Congolese refugee children
    • Kachin State Myanmar: Support for displaced children
    • Bangladesh: Community Schools for slum dwelling children
    • Lebanon: Education for Syrian refugee children
    • India-Nepal border: Education for children in brothel communities
  • SUPPORT US
    • Receive our news updates
    • Trusts & Foundations
    • Fundraise for us
    • Take on a challenge >
      • 12,000 Steps Virtual Event
      • London Marathon
      • Brighton Marathon
      • Ride London >
        • Ride London Application Form
      • Chichester Half Marathon Event
      • Great South Run
    • Organise an Event
    • Fundraise at Work
    • Clubs & Faith Groups
    • Schools
    • Volunteer
    • Shop
  • Latest stories




​
​LATEST STORIES

DONATE

"To be here and to help children is a great success after we have lost everything" - 75 Learning Centres open their doors for Rohingya refugee children

19/6/2018

 
Picture
BECOME A DONOR
Since our initial humanitarian response, Children on the Edge has established 75 Learning Centres in the Kutupalong Balukhali refugee camp.

Having fled brutal ethnic cleansing by the Myanmar army, children are not only traumatised, but cut off from services, and vulnerable to exploitation and disease.

To ensure consistent support, we have built 75 Learning Centres, based on our eight years experience of providing education in the original Kutupalong camp. These Centres are providing education in a safe space for 7,500 children.

Each Centre is a bright, colourful, environment with flowers and shrubs planted outside to begin to create an oasis feel within the arid landscape of the camp. 50% of our teachers are trained from within the Rohingya community, providing familiarity for the children. They have focussed on creating a safe, welcoming space, with consistent care and kindness.

Minura has been teaching with us for a few months, and tutored in Myanmar before the attacks forced her to flee. She says “I make the Centre fun by being like a mother to these children. Sometimes they are homesick or sad and I try to comfort them. I have also lost so much when I came to Bangladesh. I know they just need a place to play and be kids”.

This high level of care is already making a difference to the children. Saleha, a newly trained teacher says, “The children smile a lot more than they did one month ago. I learned that attitude is very important in teaching. I must have a good mood so the children will also”.

After generations of being marginalised, Rohingya children have little expectation of the rights they deserve, no education for the future and are ill equipped to survive the daily challenges of their environment.

Once released, we will be using a high quality curriculum, approved by the Bangladesh Government, covering literacy, writing, maths and science
. Children will take standard exams to prepare them for entry into the mainstream system, should government policy allow this in the future.
Picture
Mohammed has a daughter at one of our Centres, he says “If she can get an education, she can choose life outside of the camp. I don’t want her to live the rest of her life here, but if she does not study, she will have no choice”. 

The curriculum has been augmented to include elements of creativity, child rights and basic health. In the last months the children have had lessons on washing hands, using the toilet and brushing teeth. Posters in different languages illustrate health and hygiene tips and teacher Minura says “The children are cleaner and healthier now that they come to the Centre. We take time to wash our faces, hands and feet and we talk a lot about the importance of good hygiene”. 


Students are encouraged to express themselves through song, dance and drama and play. Kushi, a teacher from the local community says “I try to make everything we do a game. If I only talk to the students they don’t listen, so all our activities are made into games”. Children also learn about their rights and share their views through ‘Child Councils’ who will be producing their own newsletter.

The Centres have made a huge difference to children in the short time they have been open. They describe how happy they are to attend and how much they are learning. Teaching opportunities also have a positive impact for Rohingya teachers.

​Nurthza who arrived seven months ago, lost her husband in the attacks. She says, “I have two children and no husband now, so this job allows us to live. If I did not have this job, I don’t know what we would do, I really don’t know. In nine months, my life has changed so much. I have left everything behind. We all have. To be here and to help children is a great success after we have lost everything”.


Watch this space for more news from the Centres. 
FIND OUT MORE
RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER

Comments are closed.
    SIGN UP
    ​FOR OUR
    ​E-UPDATES

    Categories

    All
    Ambassadors
    Bangladesh
    Burma/Myanmar
    Chichester
    Chichester Half Marathon
    Child Participation
    Child Sacrifice
    Early Childhood Development
    Fundraising
    General
    History
    Hope
    India
    Kachin
    Kyaka II Uganda
    Lebanon
    Refugees
    Rohingya
    Schools
    The Body Shop At Home
    #ThrowbackThursday
    Uganda
    UK
    Volunteer

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011



    RSS Feed

How we help

Protecting Child Rights
Current Projects
Our History
Annual Report 

Get Involved

Regular Giving
Fundraise for us
Take on a Challenge
Corporate Partners
Volunteering
Grant Giving Organisations

News

Latest News
​Receive our news updates
Media

DONATE

How we spend your money
Donate now

More

Jobs
Contact Us
Resources
Chichester Half Marathon

Shop

Meet the team
​Privacy Policy
Accessibility
Logo which says 'Registered with Fundraising Regulator'

Registered charity no. 1101441
REGISTERED COMPANY No. 4996130 

​Children on the Edge, 5 The Victoria, 25 St Pancras, Chichester,  West Sussex, PO19 7LT, UK.
  • DONATE
  • WHO WE ARE
    • A Child Rights Approach
    • Meet the team
    • Contact Us
    • Media
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Bangladesh: Education for Rohingya refugee children
    • India: Education for 'untouchable' Dalit children
    • Uganda: Transforming slum communities
    • Uganda: Early Years Education for Congolese refugee children
    • Kachin State Myanmar: Support for displaced children
    • Bangladesh: Community Schools for slum dwelling children
    • Lebanon: Education for Syrian refugee children
    • India-Nepal border: Education for children in brothel communities
  • SUPPORT US
    • Receive our news updates
    • Trusts & Foundations
    • Fundraise for us
    • Take on a challenge >
      • 12,000 Steps Virtual Event
      • London Marathon
      • Brighton Marathon
      • Ride London >
        • Ride London Application Form
      • Chichester Half Marathon Event
      • Great South Run
    • Organise an Event
    • Fundraise at Work
    • Clubs & Faith Groups
    • Schools
    • Volunteer
    • Shop
  • Latest stories