Adopt an educator in exile!
- Amna Amer - 23110231
- Jun 30, 2022
- 2 min read
In the case of forced displacements, one can not ignore the significant impact of a teacher's role amongst a myriad of other school factors. However, despite this crucial role, they remain largely neglected. It is high time we shift our focus to these champions, as an investment in the teachers of refugees would mean an investment in the futures of hundreds and thousands of children.
Sadly, humanitarian sector policymakers and practitioners have failed to align their words with their actions and uphold their commitments in extending sufficient support and recognition of refugee teachers in the past. This has translated into a lack of qualification, replacement by digital innovation and a lack of access to quality materials when it comes to education in conflict-stricken regions.
Therefore, when policymakers and practitioners fail to live up to their words, the private sector must step in to fill the gap. This is where 'Genashtim's' project "Adopt a refugee teacher" comes in and allows every individual to play their role in extending quality education through well-trained educators to conflict-stricken refugees. For US $38 a month, every individual can sustain and sponsor the education of 20 refugee children. What is most interesting about a project like this is that it empowers these refugees through their own people. These funds are channeled to qualified refugees who volunteer for the project. They set up schools or learning centres themselves with the help of other refugees who volunteer as staff. For the purpose of transparency, your adopted teacher provides you updates in real time, and also tutors your children one hour a day online. This not only extends employment opportunities to the volunteers but also becomes an avenue of quality education for the children.
As we sit and discuss the impact of conflict on education
, projects like these remind us that we have a role to play. It allows us to sit in the comforts of our homes and navigate traumatized children with the help of education to a place much brighter.
Amna Amer - 23110231
You raised an important point of the teachers themselves needing counselling. In extension to that, I do have a few proposals in mind. Teachers working in conflict-affected settings should be given opportunities within their schools to build community with fellow teachers to help mitigate the psychological stress. There should also be mechanisms in place that allow these teachers to collaboratively address complex challenges present in their classrooms, especially those riddled with conflict. Lastly, since financial stability is also a stressor for these educators, perhaps the amount of compensation they receive can be increased. They should be able to earn a salary reflective of their efforts and the financial reality of their current location. These are a few ways to support…
Dear Muryum, thank you for your valuable insights. These teachers are paid. So all $38 are directly transferred to them, there is no cut for Genashtim. Furthermore, these teachers are allocated areas that are either the areas that they are already residing in or are very near to their current locations. This ensures that there is either no or absolutely minimum transportation cost involved. Therefore, this is a paid volunteership opportunity which is perfect to get them back in the social sphere.
A very thought provoking post! It is a great initiative and seems to be doing a great deal for both refugee educators and children. However, do you believe that refugee educators are the right fit for such a job? I know that as they’ve experienced conflict first hand so they might be able to communicate with children in a better manner. However, if they are unable to process their own feelings it might not be good for the children who’s mental health and future lies in the hands of these educators.
This is such a great initiative. Having refugee teachers teach children also allows for teaching sensitized to the needs of these refugee children, as the teachers themselves have lived through the trauma these children have lived through. However, this also means that the teachers might themselves need counselling as they also have gone through traumatic experiences.
I do have a question regarding this initiative: are the teachers paid to teach the students or are they just unpaid volunteers?