Nine Million Children Refugees: In their own words...

From angry young man to model student

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 07:25:57 GMT

From angry young man to model student

BOGOTÁ, Colombia – When he joined the Learning Circle a few months ago, 15-year-old Sterlin could hardly read and write. He was ashamed that even the youngest kids knew much more than him. "But I stuck to it for my grandmother, she has done everything for me and I want to get her out of here so she can have a better life. But first, I need to study to get a good job," he explains.

His neighborhood, an urban sprawl of plastic shacks, wooden huts and small brick houses on the foothills of the Andes, is one of the poorest in this suburb of the Colombian capital, Bogotá. Many of the people here have fled violence elsewhere in the country; many of the children grew up amid the armed conflict.

With help from UNHCR staff member Gustavo Valdivieso, Sterlin works on a computer in UNHCR's office. Sterlin’s dream is to work with computers so that he can earn enough to help his grandmother move to a better area. / UNHCR / P. Smith

Sterlin used to live in a small Afro-Colombian village on the Pacific Coast with his grandmother. The community had one teacher and his grandmother insisted that he should go to school, even though she had no money to pay the fees. It was just a few dollars a year, but still too high for many families in the rural areas.

So throughout his childhood, Sterlin studied on and off for a few weeks or months at a time, the money never stretching the whole year. "I didn't mind, because the other children were all doing the same," he says. He liked working in the fields to help his grandmother, whom he calls "mama" because she is the one who brought him up.

When Sterlin was 11, the whole village had to flee deteriorating violence between rival armed groups. He went to live with his parents in a large port city further up the coast, and remembers it as the worst time of his life: "My father did not want me around and did not want to waste money to send me to school."

One of the irregular armed groups in the city tried to recruit him and he fled again, this time to join his grandmother in Bogotá́. It took him a while to work up the courage to join the Learning Circle, one of five run with UNHCR support in this suburb to help children who have fallen behind in their schooling because of poverty, armed conflict or other problems.

Sterlin's education had been so disrupted that he had to start at 3rd Grade, roughly the level of an eight-year-old child. "I was fighting with everyone because I thought they were all laughing at me," he says. "Now I stopped because the teacher explained to me I was the eldest and should set the example. I don't want to be a violent man like my father."

The teenager has made so much progress in a few months that his teachers now hope that he can get into mainstream education soon. His dream is to become a computer engineer. "I have never used a computer," he admits, "but I want to learn." With his first salary, he wants to install a water pump in the house, to make his grandmother's life a bit easier.

Iraqi teen trades IT for ironing

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:09:33 GMT

Karim, a recently arrived 17 year-old Iraqi refugee, works long hours in a laundry to support his parents and large extended family. Although his parents know the value of an education, his family can't live without his $3/day income. / UNHCR / M. Bernard / August 2007

DAMASCUS, Syria – A passion for learning shines out of 17-year-old Karim’s* intelligent eyes. “I feel I have to know everything,” says the tall teenager, dressed in an Iraq national team football jersey. “If I don’t, it’s very hard for me.”

He’s pursued his education against all odds. After braving daily bombings and shootings in Baghdad to get to class, he had to drop out of 11th grade when his family fled to the Syrian capital Damascus. Here he enrolled in school, but had to drop out when he failed to produce the required residency permit.

In an amazing show of bravery and education, he then returned to Baghdad on his own to take his exams and complete 11th grade. But now it seems that may be as far as he can go.

These days, rather than following his dream of becoming a computer engineer, he’s the sole support for 13 members of his extended family, slaving over an ironing board in a laundry for 14 hours a day. Working seven days a week, he brings home the equivalent of $3 a day.

His is typical of the dilemma faced by so many teenage Iraqi refugees in Syria; while they would love to continue their education, they are often the only members of the family able to find a job and bring in at least a meagre income.

“Education is my first priority, because I love studying,” he says. At the same time he says he has no choice but to work because “I have to support my family”. He evinces no resentment at being thrust into premature responsibilities, but does miss the camaraderie of school life as well as the sheer joy of learning.

Even patching together a self-education is beyond him at this point. “I really want to study and to read on my own, but I can’t find the time,” Karim says. “I go to my work and I come back home (after midnight) exhausted.”

Though he doesn’t dwell on it, Karim’s thoughts often turn to the personal computer he had at home in Baghdad – in the 800-square-meter (8,360-square-foot) house his large family shared. It’s a staggering contrast with the one room they all live in now, with one tiny bathroom for 13 people, where they have cut the toilet tissue roll in half as an economy measure.

Karim gives no hint of despair, but he’s clearly afraid of what will happen if he cannot continue his education. “I would see the future just the same as we are living now,” he says bleakly.

*Name changed for refugee’s protection

Learning to be a leader, one task at a time

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:43:50 GMT

DJABAL CAMP, Chad – "I want to become a minister, Minister of Darfur."

At 16 years of age, Farihalh makes it clear she has the ambition and will to be more than a refugee. Like most of her current classmates, she did not have the chance to go to school back in her village in western Sudan's Darfur region. She is now very motivated to attend classes in Djabal, one of 12 refugee camps in eastern Chad. "I like going to school because I want to learn, I want to become someone with responsibilities," she says. Her favorite classes are Mathematics, Arabic, English and Islamic Education. "I have missed school perhaps once, because I was sick. Otherwise, I never miss classes." Her perfect attendance is quite amazing, considering how much she has to do outside school. "At 7 in the morning, I go and fetch water. Then I make breakfast for my parents and my sisters and brothers." At 8 am, the lively Farihalh goes to school before coming home to prepare lunch. Sometimes, she has to go to the camp's outskirts to collect firewood – always accompanied by other girlfriends, for fear of being attacked if she were alone. At 4 pm, she goes for Arabic classes, then comes back to prepare dinner for her family.

In a way, Farihalh is lucky: Her parents – Dad is a tailor while Mum is a homemaker – let her go to school, and have not forced her to get married. In the community, many girls marry as soon as they reach 12 or 13, and immediately stop attending classes – at the request of their husbands but also due to the ever-growing list of chores at home.

Farihalh also knows of girls who drop out of school to work as maids or restaurant help in town. Other children have to help their parents sell things at the market, missing classes in the process. Boys and young men face different problems – they can easily be recruited by various armed groups operating in the area. Farihalh's two younger brothers go to school but she is afraid they could be recruited when they grow older. Like most Darfuri refugees in eastern Chad, Farihalh longs to go back home. "But at present, in these conditions, I cannot go back to Darfur," she says. "I prefer to stay here and continue to learn. The day peace returns to Darfur, I will go back and continue my studies." While her ambition knows no limits, the task-driven teenager is constrained by structural limitations in the camp, which offers only primary education up to 8th grade.

She hopes that a secondary school program will soon be available in Djabal so that she can work towards becoming "Minister of Darfur".

Byabakora Primary School

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 10:12:40 GMT

At Byabakora Primary School they have developed a unique way of passing invaluable health messages to all students. They call it the "talking compound". All around the school you will find tires painted with messages such as this.

Kabazana Primary School, Uganda

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:16:35 GMT

Kabazana Primary School

Total Enrolment at Kabazana Primary school is 949. With 470 females and 479 Males. Without enough desks, classrooms and having to line up for textbooks children love coming to school! They want to learn and understand education is key to their futures.

Through ninemillion.org we hope to create a healthier learning evironment for all of these children.

Messages from Entesia

Fri, 11 May 2007 07:28:54 GMT

Dear All ninemillion.org friends,

Thank you very much for making me the feature in one of the ninemillion.org films and I feel great. It is miracle to me and I never thought people would like the film.

Entesia.

Please visit Entesia's early blog to read her latest blogs and to send her comments and questions. She was very happy to hear from you - to know that people on the other side of the world were thinking of her.

Carla

Entesia

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 16:53:58 GMT

Entesia, Imvepi settlement, Uganda

I like to play football, netball, volleyball, Red Ball Child Play and Live Safe, Play Safe (Right To Play activities). I enjoy playing sports, because it helps building my body and the muscles in my body. I also try to encourage some pupils who don’t want to play, to come and play with us.

I liked the football tournament that was organised by UNHCR a couple of months ago. We enjoyed that day and all had a very good time and I met so many new friends.

I also liked the video that was made of me. My friends and the other pupils in school also liked it. It also made the parents to send their children to play sports. Many people know about it.

All my friends say that they wish they were in the film, like me. My family is very happy about it, too. It encourages me to like sports more and to try to play even better!

I would like to learn more about sports in higher classes, but because I can’t afford to pay school fees, I fear I have no chance.

Entesia

* This blogs comes from Entesia herself! Entesia is featured in one of ninemillion.org's films. She would love to hear from you! However, I must remind you that Entesia is living in a refugee camp with no access to the internet. Any messages that you would like to send to her will be compiled after one week, printed out and taken to her personally - She will then respond to your comments. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

Carla

Zahra, 12 years. She lives in Iran and has 2 younger sisters and a big brother.

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 15:53:53 GMT

I attend secondary school and would like to go to university. Although I have never seen my homeland, I hope to go back and live in Afghanistan one day.I play sports at school, and particularly enjoy ball sports. I would love to have a ball but unfortunately don’t have one.

Mazi, 10 years old. She lives in Tehran.

Fri, 24 Nov 2006 13:10:10 GMT

Education

I go to primary school at 4^th grade. I like life in Iran except that the school fees are expensive. So, I am not sure if my family can continue paying for my tuition for coming years. But I wish to study at university and get a diploma.

Sports

I like to do gymnastics and karate in the summer. Sports is very important. I love volleyball but don’t have a ball in my house.

A ball would make a very big difference in my life.

Nikbaht, 5 years old, lives in a refugee camp in Iran.

Fri, 24 Nov 2006 13:09:12 GMT

Education

I have been born in here. There is a small primary school in the camp but I don’t attend it. I spend my days helping my mother at home and playing with my best friend Zahra in the camp. I do not have a ball but would like one. The ball can change my life as I can play with it together with Zahra. I like sharing everything with Zahra. She is my best friend.

Samad, 14 years, lives in a refugee camp in Iran.

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 15:31:23 GMT

Education

I only could attend the primary school.

I am now taking care of my mother, younger brothers and sisters in the camp while my father is away working. I love learning a foreign language. I carry a little Persian-English book for learning English in my pocket. I try to practice the sentences everyday, when I have time. I would love to continue my education.

Sports

I recently found an old bicycle near the camp and fixed it. I cycle with it around the camp everyday. I also like running in the fields nearby. There is not much to play with or sports gadgets in the camp. But with friends, we make kites out of old plastic bags and sticks and fly them in the fields nearby. I also love playing football and would be happy to have a ball as I can play with his friends in the camp. I can also give it to my brother Ebrahim, who wants and takes my bicycle very often.

Mirveis, 9 years old, lives in the Shiraz province as an urban refugee in Iran.

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 12:00:45 GMT

Education

I only attended only the first year of primary school but then, I had to drop out as my family is unable to pay the fees. I can’t properly write and read but I know figures and can calculate money and numbers, as I learned it while working. I have 2 younger and 3 older siblings. They also cant go to school.

Because my father has lost his leg stepping on a land mine during the war in Afghanistan. After that, he came to Iran. He cannot work as he is not well and cannot walk. So, me and my older brothers work to look after my parents and siblings. That is why I am working as a shoe-maker. I like making shoes. But I also would like to go to school.

Sports

I don’t do sports as I don’t have time. But I would love to have a ball. I can play with it with my brothers in our spare time. But more than anything, I wish that my father gets better and can have another leg to walk again.

Photo: Iran / UNHCR / Safak Pavey / June 20, 2006