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Phase: Research Missions: LEARNING SPACES

Access to Basic Education in Kakuma Refugee Camp.

What volunteers can offer in terms of improving education in Kakuma.

Photo of Vestine Umubyeyi
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Abdirahmani Hassan Mberwa is an Interpreter with UNHCR and he created a free school in the community where he volunteer as a Teacher. Abdirahmani Hassan Mberwa is an Interpreter with UNHCR and he created a free school in the community where he volunteer as a Teacher.

Apart from the school setting and adult education in Kakuma Refugee Camp, some volunteers have created community based schools where community members adult and children gather in one place and are divided into age-groups according to available teachers, in order to help them to at least get the basic of reading and writing. 

This is the case of Good Hope Private School created by Abdulahman Hassan Mberwa. Hassan told us that the idea came from his concern on the high number of children who stayed in the community while others have gone to school. It is also a good opportunity for adult to catch up with alphabetization. 

Even though such opportunity is available, does the this form of education comply with the quality of the education needed in the world today?

Hassan's class


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Photo of Luisa Fernanda

Vestine,
Thanks for sharing such an inspiring story. What an incredible example set off by Hassan. How long has he been doing this for? Are there other members of the community who also volunteer teaching? What do they teach? How long are classes for? What do you think is missing from what is being taught in these classes, compared to what is being taught at formal schools in the camp?

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Photo of Bettina Fliegel

Hi Vestine.
Can you also share why the children that Hassan is teaching are not going to the formal schools? What are the barriers? Is it that there is not sufficient space for children in the camp, or do their parents not allow it for some reason, and choose Hassan's classes instead? Is there access to the internet in the camp/schools?
Thanks for sharing this story!

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Photo of Vestine Umubyeyi

Thank you Louisa, Hassan started that school in April last year and other members are imitating his example, there is another guy who opened an adult class in his community may be he will be my second post. What is missing is that they teach only writing and reading and counting may be other subjects should be added but it all depends on the number of teachers available to volunteer.

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Photo of Vestine Umubyeyi

Thank you Bettina, children that Hassan are teaching are not going to formal schools for two main reason: parents are not interested to send them to schools and culture barriers that do not allow young female to access to education. The problem with sufficient space also contribute in demotivating parents as sometimes headteachers have to send children away because spaces are already full. There is no access to internet in the camp schools, only few people use their mobile phones to access internet in the camp.

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Photo of Bettina Fliegel

Thanks for your reply Vestine.
What is the age group of the children that are not being sent to school? Is the group boys and girls, or primarily girls? Are they working? Might there be an opportunities to educate these children in informal ways that parents allow? What are your thoughts on this?

If the parents are not interested in educating these children why do parents send them to Hassan's school? Is the education different, or perceived to be different?

Is there any action in the camp on the part of local leaders to promote the importance of education for all children?

Thank you Vestine!

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