Global Emergency Update September 2023

Global Emergency Update: Education for Children Affected by Crisis

Around the world, children are returning to school. For many, the classroom provides structure and routine. But for those whose lives have been disrupted by conflict, natural disaster or any crisis, school has also become a place to heal.

The impact of disaster affects all aspects of a child’s life—their family, their sense of safety, their access to learning, and their development of life skills to cope and prosper as adults. And the ripple effects can be long-lasting.

Around the World

Education plays a vital role in providing a sense of normalcy. But the challenges are diverse from place to place and require assistance that is locally led and tailored for that context.

In some countries, like Afghanistan, government schools might not be accessible in extremely rural areas. Catholic Relief Services uses a community‑based education model to provide quality education to girls and boys, especially those who have had no access to education while living in remote or conflict‑affected areas or during displacement.

Elsewhere, like Bangladesh, children might be living in a refugee settlement where access to formal learning in public school is limited. Over their years of stay, children need to keep up with their education or catch up on years lost.

In countries like Poland, Lebanon and Jordan, children who have arrived as refugees from conflicts back home might face language barriers, long distances from government schools, or lack the papers needed for enrollment because they fled quickly. Or students might have had their school destroyed in an earthquake, like in Turkey, or rendered unsafe to attend, like in eastern Ukraine.

Across many parts of the world affected by conflict or displacement, CRS is working closely with our local partners and institutions to provide comprehensive support for communities and families, including education, counseling and care for children.

“You see the telltale signs of trauma among these children: stuttering, bed-wetting, the fear of things they did not fear before. If they hear a simple thing, they panic—thinking it is an explosion or someone coming to get their dad.”

—Randa Zoumot, Caritas Jordan counselor to Syrian children

Counseling and Social Support

Children caught up in turmoil have unique emotional and psychological vulnerabilities, with the potential to suffer lifelong damage from trauma and lost opportunities. Many children have limited access to education, few safe spaces to interact with others and heightened stress within families. After falling behind in their educational and social development, it is not uncommon for children in crisis situations to experience a diminished sense of well‑being and belonging.

For children to learn, they must be emotionally ready and open to the learning environment. CRS creates safe spaces and opportunities that allow children to ease their fears, loneliness and insecurities, and start to heal, communicate and trust. CRS’ counseling and social activities are aimed not only at children and young adults, but also parents and caregivers. CRS support is tailored to local contexts and needs among children and families, as well as to the capacity of local partners and systems.

“Each time I walk through the camp, what strikes me is I see little children. And I see a whole generation of children being denied the joyful environment, or the safety that they deserve. Being a father of a 10-year-old daughter, I look at those children and think, ‘What have they done wrong? Or what have they done not to deserve a life that a child is deserving?’ That really hurts me.”

—Ferdinand Pereirra, protection manager for Caritas Bangladesh

CRS and Partner Support

CRS is working with families, our local partners, communities and institutions to prioritize safe access to education according to local contexts and needs. Our education, counseling and social support is holistic, designed to address the whole needs of the person.

The range of activities can include any of the following, tailored and adapted for local context:

• Informal schools with education materials and skilled teachers.
• Training for teachers and other staff members.
• Improvements to public and private classrooms and support to local communities in need of an educational space.
• Facilitation of kindergarten classes.
• Child‑friendly spaces that provide a safe place for children to play and receive support.
• Tutoring to prevent dropping out.
• Safe transportation to and from school and educational activities.
• Food and healthy snacks to help children focus in school and thrive.
• Parent-teacher meetings.
• Support—counseling, social services, instructional and other forms—for parents and caregivers.
• Recreational activities and exercise games that allow children to express themselves and have freedom of movement.
• Comprehensive counseling—including trauma counseling—and referrals for specialized care.
• Individual and group therapy sessions to help children with common issues they face, such as family relationships and feelings like fear, anger, jealousy and shyness, and how to express those feelings. Sessions also specialize in adolescence, social skills, self‑confidence and self‑care.
• Support and inclusive education for children with disabilities.

A range of these programs are currently taking place for children and their families around the world, including in Ukraine, Moldova, Bangladesh, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq and Afghanistan.

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