Burundi Refugee Camps

Context:

A civil war raged in Burundi from 1993-2006, related to ethnic violence largely between Hutu and Tutsi groups.  Troubles re-ignited again after the presidential elections in 2010.  Burundi is a country emerging from conflict, conflict and persecution are driving mass human displacement in Burundi.

Most Burundian refugees lack safe spaces or classrooms where they can learn comfortably.  To build the country back, youth need access to education.  Access to education is largely determined by the setting in which the refugee lives.

Often in refugee camps there is a lack of qualified teachers, and schools themselves are sites of violence or targets for attack.

​

 “Burundi’s government had rejected a decision to deploy a UN police force in an effort to end more than a year of terrible violence since President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to seek a third term in office.  More than 500 people have been killed in unrest since April last year and a vast amount of people have fled their homes. The situation looks far from being resolved any time soon.

“Back then it was an ethnic conflict between the Hutus and Tutsis.  Today it is political.  It is the police and the government, the very people who are supposed to protect the population who are today killing them.”

(Marguerite Barankitse, Retrieved on Oct 2017, from:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/20/aid-workers-bravery-should-inspire-us-to-do-more-for-the-worlds-60m-refugees )

​

Refugee’s access to quality education is constrained by several factors: limited resources and funding, significant overcrowding, a lack of teaching and learning materials, a lack of current pedagogical training and relevant curriculum and even sometimes, appropriate language policies.  Food rations and water shortages cause concerns for the displaced persons.  Initially in camps, urgent needs such as hygiene kits, safe drinking water and emergency toilets are the priority over learning spaces or education.

On Aug 19th 2016, World Humanitarian Day, the theme was ‘One Humanity’ which spoke to ‘how our shared experiences bind us across divides, and creates a common responsibility to demand action for the most vulnerable and at risk of being left behind.’

In 2015 there were 65.3 million people living in forced displacement due to conflict and persecution (UNHCR 2016).  This figure includes those who have fled across borders (refugees) and those who have stayed within their own countries (Internally displaced person or IDP’s).

(Retrieved on Oct 2017, from:

http://www.heart-resources.org/topic/education-for-refugees-and-idps/)

Young learners in Burundi Refugee Camps are living in a very challenging environment.  How do we ensure they receive the education they require?

​

(Map retrieved Oct 2017: https://reliefweb.int/map/burundi/burundi-crisis-refugees-neighbouring-countries-echo-daily-map-872015)