Education Gives Refugee Children Hope

Right now, around the world, there are approximately 12.4 million school-aged refugee children. But of these children, an estimated 5.7 million – or 46% of them – do not currently have access to education.

When organizations like Save the Children respond to emergency situations, establishing temporary learning spaces is one of our key priorities, alongside providing medical care, emergency shelter, and child protection services.

But why is establishing a place to continue education so important in an emergency? Simply put, it’s because for refugee children, education is so much more than learning. It is:

• • A place of protection – Schools provide safe spaces where children are protected from risks that often increase during displacement, including child marriage, exploitation and recruitment by armed groups;
• • A place of recovery – Stability and a return to routine is very important for children living through an emergency, especially those who have been forced from their homes, and education can help give them a sense of routine and normalcy;
• • A place to grow – Schools help children rebuild their confidence, make friends, and regain a sense of normal life after difficult experiences.

With support from Global Affairs Canada, Save the Children – and other organizations in the Together for Learning community – are helping refugee children access safe, quality education and the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.

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