Providing Access to Quality Education to children in displaced communities.
The right to education is a fundamental human right and firmly rooted in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and essential for the exercise of all other human rights. More often than not, children caught up in conflict and natural crises are forced to abandon their schooling. Families facing immediate threats to survival often prioritize basic needs like shelter, food, and safety above education. This understandable survival instinct leaves educational services in crisis zones severely disrupted. The devastating consequence? Over 37 million children affected by emergencies are currently out of school. Despite progress in enrolling children in primary school, a significant gap remains. The children who need education access the most – those facing conflict, emergencies, and disadvantage – are also the hardest to reach. Recent estimates show that less than 2% of humanitarian aid is allocated to education, despite the fact that education is a high priority for children.
QUALI-ED’s goal is to improve access to education, holistic learning outcomes and well-being for over 100,000 children ages 3-12+ who live in refugee, IDP, and host communities in Cameroon and Nigeria from 2022 to 2027. To work with education stakeholders to explore the underlying causes of low primary school completion rates for children impacted by conflicts and disasters. Equipped with a clear understanding of the challenges faced by displaced children, the project will develop targeted solutions to improve access to quality of education. QUALI-ED promotes the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 4: Ensuring Inclusive, Equitable, and Quality Education and the Promotion of Lifelong Learning Opportunities for All, and will focus on the following components:
Community Engagement:
Awareness campaigns are a critical first step to improving demand for education in conflict-affected areas. Often, parents and children do not recognize the value education holds for the future, and the immediate and tangible benefits of work often supersede schooling. An increase in community demand can pressure the re-establishment of formal schooling in safe areas and deter child labor and exploitation of children with the promise of a positive and constructive future. Community engagement will involve focus group discussions, round table activities, advocacy campaigns and others to mobilize the community to understand the benefits and demand for more access to education for children.
Learning through Play:
QUALI-ED leverages learning through play as an active teaching and learning method to deliver inclusive and equitable quality education for refugee, IDP, and host-community children. Play-based learning has proven to be an effective tool in helping these children overcome their challenges and build resilience. Through play, children can express their emotions, develop problem-solving skills, and learn to interact with others in a positive and meaningful way.QUALI-ED goes beyond traditional classrooms! By incorporating the Foundation's playground, arts room, and community activities, our "learn through play" approach fosters a fun and engaging environment that deepens children's understanding of academic concepts and ignites a love of learning. This component draws inspiration from the LEGO Foundation.
Infrastructure Enhancement: Displaced children face a multitude of challenges in accessing quality education, often due to a lack of proper infrastructure. The most critical issue is the stark absence of schools and classrooms. Even in areas where schools exist, they are frequently in a dilapidated state, posing safety hazards and hindering effective learning. UNOCHA Cameroon report of February 2024 reported over 500,000 children are out of school due to violence, attacks on teachers, students, and schools. UNICEF adds that one in three children in Nigeria is out of school, totaling 10.2 million at the primary level, and 8.1 million at the junior secondary school level. It said one in every five out-of-school children in the world is in Nigeria.QUALI-ED bridges the gap to quality education by providing displaced children with essential infrastructure. This includes safe and secure buildings, proper sanitation facilities, comfortable seating, and essential learning materials.
Professional Development for Teachers: Limited access to education is further compounded by the lack of trained teachers available to facilitate learning for children, particularly children with special needs or psychosocially impacted by displacement. It is critical that educational resources and materials are provided to trained or re-trained teachers to facilitate the learning process and create a child-friendly, interactive, and stimulating learning environment. In order to provide smooth and efficient education to children affected by crises, teaching personnel need the appropriate skills and knowledge that will enable them to understand the needs of their students and create a conducive learning environment. QUALI-ED fosters a vibrant educational community! Through collaborative activities, educators will share best practices, refine teaching methods, and gain access to valuable tools that enhance the teaching experience.
The Atem Foundation Resource and Empowerment Center is a hub for learning and provides students and communities with tools and opportunities to strengthen their resolve for excellence. Housing a library, reading and arts room, children playground and others, the center serves as a support system and provides the necessary resources for the accomplishment of QUALI-ED.
