Hi Emerimana,

It was great to read this, and I was really struck by that passage: "Education received by a refugee today will help transform that young woman or man into a leader tomorrow." I'm troubled by the narrative in my own country that suggests that refugees are "nobodies," expected to simply be grateful to have a place somewhere. I think that narrative silences many wise and accomplished people who enter strange and new countries, and I think that believing in them-- and helping them to believe in themselves-- as future leaders is a way to change that narrative. Access is one problem-- but I'm curious whether you've already thought of some ways that institutions of higher education could do a better job with refugee students that do enroll?

Warm Regards,
Kristin

Hi Cynthia, thanks for the story first-hand! I have to say, my eyes kind of lingered on that phrase, "kids could eat as much as they liked free of charge." In a world increasingly driven by metrics and measurement, how gorgeous is that generosity! I would imagine that for children who wake uncertain of their safety or security, it can be a transformational experience to step into a room where they are certain to be allowed to fill their bellies.

Hi Latha,

Great point. It seems like the space for reinventing education opportunities for refugees is wide open -- in comparison to long-established school systems like the public school systems in the US. It's a chance to check out the lessons that have been learned from alternative schooling methods over the past few decades and think about how they could be applied to a more traditional institution.

Regards,
Kristin