‘No Child Left Behind’ campaign for for refugees launched students
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR has launched the No Child Left Behind campaign to raise funds for learning materials for 150,000 pre-primary and primary students in Kenya’s refugee camps.
The campaign aims to address access to adequate and quality education for learners in the camps, currently threatened by an acute lack of learning materials and classroom facilities. Worse, the rollout of the new curriculum requires new learning materials.
The UN refugee agency says the private sector, including individuals, companies, and foundations, can play a large role in ensuring refugee access to education so that no child is left behind.
“Education is vital for the future of refugee children and a key priority for UNHCR. The deficit of current learning materials has resulted in an average of seven refugee students sharing a textbook amongst themselves,” said Fathiaa Abdalla, UNHCR Representative in Kenya.
Desk shortage
Mercy Masika, a Kenyan musician who is also UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, observed the crisis during a recent visit to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana county. Apart from textbooks, there is an urgent need for additional desks.
“I witnessed first-hand pre-primary classes where schoolchildren sat on the floor and primary school pupils were taking exams in the open air due to lack of facilities. I believe we can help these young refugee children,” she said.
Adding their support to the No Child Left Behind campaign are LuQuLuQu Supporters, a social movement that strives to shed light on the incredible resilience refugees demonstrate; Amina Abdi, communications manager for UNHCR; media personality Pinky Ghelani and Dr King’ori, a comedian, among others.
The campaign aims to raise funds from Kenya’s private sector to provide refugee students with up to date schoolbooks, school desks, fund teacher training, and improve educational facilities.
