#rohingyaeducation
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"Most children cannot go to school."
For many families, this last month has been full of back-to-school shopping,
Class supply lists checked off.
Backpacks stuffed full of little one’s favorite-colored notebooks and cartoon erasers.
First day of school pictures full of cheeky grins snapped on front porches.
The joy and nerves of a new year of school.
For thousands of Rohingya kids, these moments often never come.
The Rohingya are a minority Muslim ethnic group in Myanmar that have long been told by those in power that they do not belong.
In 2012, they were stripped of their citizenship and experienced widespread violence in Rakhine State. Subsequent military operations led to a mass exodus of nearly a million people to Bangladesh in 2017.
The majority of those who stayed in Rakhine State were placed in internment camps. They are restricted from access to jobs, education, and are not allowed to move freely about. When they leave, they face copious military checkpoints where they risk having their few possessions confiscated, bribes demanded of them, and brutal attacks.
Going to school takes on a whole new meaning when discrimination is a constant shadow over every aspect of your life.
In Rakhine State, Myanmar, and Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, we’re supporting local communities so more kids can know that first day of school joy and pursue their dreams of becoming teachers, doctors, scientists – a future generation that can support free and full lives for their community.
An incredible group of local teachers are behind making this vision a reality. Teachers like Hafsa*, who is a 4th grade teacher for 30 students in a village near Cox’s Bazar Bangladesh. She has been teaching for five years.
“I started teaching because I like teaching and I enjoy teaching children.”
Cyclone Mocha wreaked havoc on her life and community. Her home was flooded, along with her school. “The schools have been flooded, (making them) muddy and damaged. Some students' houses were also damaged, and some students lost their books.”
Even before the cyclone, many families were struggling. “Most of the families in this village are poor…most children cannot go to school because they have to work for money.
Some children started to smoke and drink and became addicted, this is the reason I chose to teach and became a teacher.”
Every child should know what it means to live a life of freedom and belonging.
To dream big dreams and pursue them in a classroom full of friends.
One of these students is Zyihadu. “My grandparents are Rohingya, but I was born here.
"I am happy to go to school, it is fun to meet with friends and play. And I like learning new things."
When I was young, I couldn’t go to school because we are poor, I started to go to school at 10 when we had free school.”
A close-knit community brings joy to his life. “I like my village; I am happy living here. I like playing here, the playground I play at is beautiful. I have good friends.”
Our friends at One Day’s Wages are putting love into action and matching every dollar up to $15,000 so that oppression and discrimination do not have the last word for kids like Zyihadu.
Click here to donate today, doubling hope for Rohingya kids and making sure they can dream big.
Thank you for making their future shine brighter.
*pseudonym used for security.
#rohingya#rohingyacrisis#education#partners#partnersrelief#toloveistoact#educationmatters#educationforall#rohingyaeducation
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