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Education – the catalyst for progress

by Rosa Domingos | 22-11-2018 22:33 recommendations 1

Our world has more refugees now than ever before and sadly a majority of them are children. Of greater concern is that the number of child refugees are rising by the day. War, strife, political upheavals and the impacts of climate change are uprooting children from their homes and families, robbing them of their security and prosperity and placing them in situations fraught with uncertainty and danger.

 
Surviving each day can be a challenge and many of them do not know where their next meal will come from. The plight of girls is even worse as they face threats of trafficking and abuse (Kehkashan, 2018).


Feeling sorry for refugees is not an option. The onus lies with every member of civil society, including young people, who are the future generations, to take constructive steps before this crisis escalates further. The empowerment and progress of refugee children can become a reality only if they have access to education. Without education, many are likely to face a bleak future.
And if we are to realize the goal of ¡°achieving a life of dignity for all¡± then we must take all measures to create an environment of inclusivity and equal opportunity for refugees and the first step towards that is to provide access to education.

Kehkashan, is the Founder and President youth sustainability organization, Green Hope Foundation, one of their main areas of work has been to use education for Sustainable Development as a transformative tool to engage and empower refugee children. In January this year, she travelled to Lebanon to conduct environmental workshops for Syrian refugee children living in camps along the border (Kehkashan, 2018).


Over a two day period, she and her team interacted with over 600 refugee children some as young 6. None of them had been to school since they fled from their war torn country and their interaction with us was their first exposure to education in a long while. To engage and educate these children about the environment and sustainability, they used creative means of communication, such as art, dance, drama, music and songs. Their zeal and passion amazed the team and made them realise that children possess the same zeal, enthusiasm and innocence in all parts of the world. They then spoke to the children about climate change, calculating one¡¯s carbon footprint and the importance of consuming with care. They grasped these concepts with tremendous ease and at the end of our workshops they pledged to stop using plastic and conduct regular cleanups at their camps (Kehkashan, 2018).


Some of them even promised to plant trees to offset their carbon footprint. Their efforts were, but a drop in their ocean of life, but I believe their actions positively impacted these children. It is important for each of us to take action, however small it might be ,to address issues faced by refugee children and it starts with education (Kehkashan, 2018).

The opportunities are many – all it needs is intent.

Reference list: 
Kehkashan,. 2018. Education – the catalyst for progress. [Online]. Available: http://www.voicesofyouth.org/en/posts/education-the-catalyst-for-progress. Sep 22, 2018. Accessed: Nov 22, 2018. (&cover picture)
 
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  • Dormant user Rosa Domingos
 
 
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9 Comments

  • Horticulturist Susmita says :
    Greetings Rosa
    I hope you are doing well
    Thank you so much for this report

    Keep writing
    Green cheers
    Regards
    Sus
    Posted 15-03-2020 16:39

  • Rosa Domingos says :
    Hi Eco-Gen!

    I was not aware that she was an ambassador for this platform. I see she has soared up high and really taken her work further to promote the SDGs.

    Thank you for reading my report!
    Sincerely yours
    R.
    Posted 03-12-2018 20:53

  • Rosa Domingos says :
    Hi Gyeongrin!

    Thank you so much for reading my report! The intention behind the work we want to do is really lacking and I think that needs to change so as tho start putting our plans to action.

    Sincerely yours
    R.

    Posted 03-12-2018 19:27

Eco Generation

  • Eco Generation says :
    Good to see Kehkashan through our Ambassador's report! She was one our of Eco-generation Regional Ambassadors many years ago. :) Thanks for the report, Rosa!
    Posted 28-11-2018 10:56

  • Gyeongrin mentor says :
    Hello Rosa
    'The opportunities are many &#8211 all it needs is intent.'
    We know what the problem is, and we know what we can do to get things right. However what we do lack is the will, the intent to actullay make any contribution to the world that we are living. Education is important as it provides youths the guideline to empower them the potential that they have within!
    Thanks for the report :)
    Posted 26-11-2018 17:22

  • Rosa Domingos says :
    Hey Israel!

    Yes, she's doing brilliant work! Big ups to her and her team!
    Posted 23-11-2018 18:41

  • Israel Adeoye says :
    Thanks for the information Rosa. And really, Kehkashan must be doing great.

    Education is the best legacy!
    Posted 23-11-2018 18:10

  • Rosa Domingos says :
    Heya Deepak!

    I also think that she is a true inspiration Deepak, he work is really ground-breaking and admirable. Thank you for the link. I will take a look at the link!
    Posted 23-11-2018 15:38

  • Deepak Subedi says :
    Hello Rosa, Good Afternoon
    Kehkashan is a very great person and she is really doing amazing, at a very young age alsoshe is helping a lot of children and people. She is a true inspiration for all of us who want to do good work for the community, nation and earth.

    https://www.unccd.int/kehkashan-basus-story

    We can learn more about her from this link above.

    And really education is positive catalyst for progress.
    Thank You for the report.
    Posted 22-11-2018 22:51

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