Education in Emergencies - Myanmar
Above: Encouraging families to send their daughters to class is a key focus of the AHP Education in Emergencies response in Rakhine State, Myanmar. Image: Save the Children.
Delnu* is a bright and inquisitive 12-year-old girl, living with her family in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. The camp has been home for eight years and, with 11 people in the family, Delnu’s parents take whatever jobs they can find in the camp to care for Delnu and her siblings.
Delnu is one of approximately 30,000 children living in IDP camps in Rakhine State. It is estimated there are approximately another 45,600 children who are considered ‘non-displaced stateless populations’ who also face challenges accessing education.
The Australian Government is providing humanitarian assistance to these children through the Myanmar Humanitarian Package (2020-2022), which includes the Myanmar Education in Emergencies** response, implemented through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP). The Education in Emergencies response focuses on providing education opportunities for children like Delnu who are unable to access formal education.
Delnu has completed level one and level two of her primary education (equivalent to grade four) through what is known as Non-Formal Primary Education. Through the Education in Emergencies response, Non-Formal Primary Eduaction and Middle School Education will be strengthened, providing greater opportunity for students like Delnu to continue their education.
In addition, the response focuses on raising community awareness of the importance of girls, not just boys, receiving an education. AHP partners will also advocate for the rights of children with disabilities to go to school. School environments will be designed to ensure they are accessible to children with a disability and that the particular needs of girls are met. Community mobilisation teams will identify and encourage out-of-school adolescents to enrol and cash support will be provided to families to assist them in enrolling their children.
Delnu’s Story
Above: Delnu hopes to finish her education and become a social worker. Image: Save the Children.
"My name is Delnu. I'm 12 years old. When we moved to this camp I was only five years old and now we have been living here for eight years. There are 11 people in our family and my parents are struggling to make ends meet by doing whatever jobs available in the camp.
I have nine brothers and sisters and only two out of us were able to attend school but they didn't finished secondary school because my parents couldn't afford their education. They left school to also work and support us.
I got a chance to attend the Non-Formal Primary Education class and finished level one and two at the youth centre run by Save the Children. After finishing Non-Formal Primary Education, I continued to attend grade five at a government school. But there were some difficulties in continuing my education such as being unable to afford daily transportation charges to get to school which is far from our camp, being teased by boys on the street, and not being able to afford tuition fees.
I want to continue my education and want to become a social worker when I grow up so that I can help those who are in the same situation as me. And I also want to be a reliable person who can support my family.”
*Names have been changed.
** The AHP Education in Emergencies response is being delivered through a consortium comprising Save the Children Australia (lead agency), Plan International, Humanity and Inclusion and Lutheran World Federation.