Mia Eskelund Pedersen’s Post

📚 Empowering Education in Refugee Communities I am thrilled to share a heartwarming story of determination and hope from within our community. Meet Mohammed Anos, a bright 4-year-old eager to pursue education despite the challenges faced in the Bangladesh refugee camps. In a community where formal education resources are limited, represents the resilience and potential of every child yearning to learn. As an educator, I firmly believe that education is not just a privilege but a fundamental right for every individual, regardless of their circumstances. Witnessing the hunger for knowledge in writing & drawing, I provided him with a book, a simple yet powerful tool to ignite his curiosity and pave the way for his educational journey. This small act symbolizes our collective commitment to breaking barriers and empowering the next generation. Imagine a community without access to formal education—deprived of opportunities, knowledge, and growth. By investing in education, we cultivate empowered individuals who can shape a brighter future for themselves and their communities. Let's join hands in championing education and ensuring that every child, like Mohammed Anos, has the chance to dream, learn, and thrive. Together, let's build a world where education knows no bounds. 🏣 #EducationForAll #Empowerment #RefugeeEducation

"Alarming Reality: 36.4 Million Refugees Worldwide 🌎 The global refugee crisis has reached unprecedented levels, with 36.4 million people displaced worldwide. 🚨 This crisis has a devastating impact on education, leaving millions of children and youth without access to quality learning. 📚 At #LearningLane, we believe that education is a fundamental right, not a privilege. 🌟 Our Open Educational Resources (#OER) can help bridge the gap: 📊 Accessible and inclusive learning materials. 📈 Self-paced learning for remote or restricted areas. 🌎 Empowering refugees through education. LearningLane's #OER tools can help: 📁 Provide curriculum-aligned resources. 📊 Facilitate teacher training and support. 📈 Foster community engagement and inclusivity. Let's join forces to demand change and provide solutions. OER can be a powerful tool in the fight for refugee education. 💪 #LearningLane #OER #RefugeeEducation #InclusiveLearning #EducationForAll" https://lnkd.in/dgE-C4Ba

Here’s a scenario! Your school has just welcomed a refugee family. The family doesn’t have a strong command of English and the children have experienced trauma. There’s also a lack of trust in authority and the children aren’t familiar with the rules or functions of school. In fairness, these children have the right to the same education as your children and every other child at the school. However, their genuine needs differ from the needs of your children and others at the school. You know that the school’s role is to teach an agreed curriculum, but what exactly does that look like? To what degree is the school responsible for ensuring all the needs of all children from all different families are met? This is the challenge schools face. What is ‘fair’ in the provision of instruction? You have five responsibilities to your child: 1. Learn all you can about the curriculum on offer for your child 2. Learn about your children’s educational needs and secure agreement on those for which the school is responsible and those for which it is not 3. Seek assistance from other service providers to meet any needs the school is not qualified to meet 4. Ensure your children’s needs do not adversely compromise the instruction of other children 5. Speak out if the needs of other children are adversely affecting the instruction your children are receiving. It doesn’t help anyone to assume your children’s school can serve all families in all areas of need. It does help to establish boundaries to prevent schools taking on what they are not qualified to teach or address. It also helps to build bridges to services providers and professionals who are qualified. With the right bridges and boundaries - everyone benefits. Come to my First Principles On Education® - Online Open Forum on Thursday 22nd August at 10.30am. Ask questions, hear what's happening in other schools, gather ideas, share solutions and raise the bar on education so everyone benefits. DM me for a link to this popular event.

🌟 Empowering Education for Refugee Children in Kabiria, Nairobi 🌟 At Friends of Fizi Kabiria, we are committed to creating opportunities for every child, regardless of their background. Education is a beacon of hope for children from refugee families in Kabiria, and Fizi School has been at the forefront of making this possible. 📚 The Challenge: 28% of Nairobi refugee adults have never completed formal education, compared to just 3% of nationals. Financial barriers—the cost of books, transport, and uniforms—limit refugee families' access to education. Refugee children face lower secondary school enrollment rates (73%) than their peers (86%). ✨ Our Mission: Fizi School provides a supportive and inclusive environment for children from refugee families. With your support, we can overcome these challenges and continue providing: Access to quality education. School meals to support learning. Scholarships for children in need. 🤝 Join Us in Making a Difference: Your contributions can help us expand access to education and empower the next generation. Together, we can ensure that every child has a chance to dream big and achieve their full potential. 👉 Visit our website to learn more: www.fizischool.com 📩 Email us at [email protected] to explore how you can support Fizi School. Let's shape a brighter future—one child at a time. 🌍💙 #EducationForAll #RefugeeSupport #FiziSchool #FriendsOfFizi #EmpowermentThroughEducation

A countdown to World Refugee Day: 10 Facts about #refugee higher education 5. Of the handful of organizations in Kakuma that help refugees access higher education abroad, Elimisha Kakuma is the only one that provides an intensive, 16-month program that ensures their academic and personal success in college. To support our students' academic success, donate today: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 6. There are only a handful of organizations in Kakuma that help refugees access higher education abroad. Elimisha Kakuma is the only one founded and led by former refugees who were raised in the camp. If you agree that leadership by those with lived experience is essential for improving refugee lives, donate today: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 7. Funding for refugee education is miniscule: as a former UNHCR education officer once observed, “donors often hesitate to direct funding to education because children don’t die immediately from a lack of it.” We believe that a lack of education – and thus a lack of hope – can nonetheless destroy a child’s spirit and shrink their life. If you agree, donate now: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 8. Refugees are barred by law from regular employment in Kenya, meaning that it is virtually impossible for them to pay tuition at in-country universities. To support Elimisha Kakuma’s mission of connecting refugee students with university scholarships internationally, donate here: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 9. In Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, with a population of over 250,000 people, fewer than 1% of high school graduates have access to higher education. To help us increase that number in line with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency goals, donate today: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 10. Currently only 7% of refugees globally have access to higher education. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has pledged to increase that to 15% by 2030. You can support that pledge by donating to refugee-led Elimisha Kakuma: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc

Join me as I lend my voice to advocate for the educational rights of millions of Refugees across Africa as we celebrate #WorldRefugeeDay. Who are Refugees and why should their educational rights be prioritized? Refugees are people forced to flee their own country and seek safety in another country as a result of crises such as terrorism, war, natural hazards, insurgencies, etc. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR), there were over 80 million forcibly displaced people worldwide by the end of 2020 and over 7 million refugees in Africa by the end of 2023, 50% of which are children and youth with limited access to quality education. These children are forced to flee their homes and as a result, have their education disrupted which informs the need for prioritizing education in emergencies! Every year, due to situations of crisis, our nation is faced with a learning crisis with primary and secondary-aged children out of school and even those who are in school are not able to reach minimum proficiency level. Education is an important key to breaking the cycle of humanitarian crises anywhere but millions of Refugees across Africa are still faced with an alarming educational crisis which has led to a gap in their foundational skills development. They are faced with major barriers to foundational learning due to a lack of necessary educational support and facilities such as overcrowded and unconducive classroom facilities, a shortage of teachers, and a limited supply of learning materials. Moreso, many refugee learners are forced to learn in languages different from their mother tongues due to displacement which further affects their ability to assimilate foundational concepts in literacy and numeracy. The educational crisis facing refugees in Africa demands urgent and sustainable actions from the government and other relevant educational stakeholders. We must prioritize investing in the education of refugees by implementing policies that support their foundational skills development and retention in formal schools. #educationinemergencies #educationforrefugees #educationforall #foundationallearning #worldrefugeeday

Today is World Refugee Day- and a poignant reminder of the huge challenges refugees face in accessing higher education, integrating into society and finding employment. To support better policy-making and international strategy on supporting refugees into higher education, we need better data. That is why Times Higher Education have partnered with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency to undertake the largest-ever global mapping exercise to collect data from higher education institutions on enrolments, scholarship opportunities and other challenges they face. The project will support UNHCR's 15x30 initiative, to raise the enrolment ratio of refugees into higher education to 15% by 2030. It currently stands at 7%, and with six years to go there is still some effort to put in. I've seen exceptional examples of the efforts to support refugee access- not least the 'Twinning Ukraine' scheme created by Cormack Consultancy Group and Universities UK International in 2022. However, there will lots of other examples from around the world- particularly in the Global South- where great work is being done but currently not captured in data. That is where we need your help- we want to engage as many universities as possible to fill out this global survey. Please sign up for the survey using the link provided below- and spread this message far and wide!

A countdown to #WorldRefugeeDay: 10 Facts about #refugee higher education 2. Online learning has opened up vast new opportunities to connect refugees with higher education. As teachers, however, we know that nothing can ever replace in-person interactions. If you agree, help us hire our first on the ground teacher/college counselor in Kakuma: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 3. For every refugee student who manages to access higher education, there are tens of thousands who can't continue past secondary school. This is why we have started a Tech Hub where community members in Kakuma can access computers, wifi, trainings, and find paths to their futures. To help us help others, donate today: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 4. Given the opportunity, refugees can compete with the best and brightest college students around the world. Of the 29 students admitted to Elimisha Kakuma in cohorts 1 through 3, all 29 have received admission with funding to 21 universities in US, Canada, the UK, and Europe. To help the next cohort reach 100% admission+scholarship, donate today: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 5. Of the handful of organizations in Kakuma that help refugees access higher education abroad, Elimisha Kakuma is the only one that provides an intensive, 16-month program that ensures their academic and personal success in college. To support our students' academic success, donate today: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 6. There are only a handful of organizations in Kakuma that help refugees access higher education abroad. Elimisha Kakuma is the only one founded and led by former refugees who were raised in the camp. If you agree that leadership by those with lived experience is essential for improving refugee lives, donate today: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 7. Funding for refugee education is miniscule: as a former UNHCR education officer once observed, “donors often hesitate to direct funding to education because children don’t die immediately from a lack of it.” We believe that a lack of education – and thus a lack of hope – can nonetheless destroy a child’s spirit and shrink their life. If you agree, donate now: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 8. Refugees are barred by law from regular employment in Kenya, meaning that it is virtually impossible for them to pay tuition at in-country universities. To support Elimisha Kakuma’s mission of connecting refugee students with university scholarships internationally, donate here: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 9. In Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, with a population of over 250,000 people, fewer than 1% of high school graduates have access to higher education. To help us increase that number in line with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency goals, donate today: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 10. Currently only 7% of refugees globally have access to higher education. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has pledged to increase that to 15% by 2030. You can support that pledge by donating to refugee-led Elimisha Kakuma: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc

Somali Regional Education Bureau Pledges to Integrate Refugee Students into Public Schools ............................................ The Somali region is taking significant steps to integrate refugee students into its public school system. A recent meeting, held on Monday, November 25, 2024, brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for this transition. The meeting was led by the Regional Minister of Education and attended by representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, the World Bank, UNHCR, and local education departments. The primary goal of the meeting was to develop a comprehensive plan to transfer refugee students from refugee camps to government-run schools. This integration aims to provide equal educational opportunities for all children, regardless of their origin. However, several challenges must be addressed, including language barriers, curriculum alignment, infrastructure constraints, and the psychological and social needs of refugee students. To overcome these challenges, the Somali region plans to develop a comprehensive integration plan, provide teacher training, mobilize resources, and implement a robust monitoring and evaluation system. By taking these steps, the region can ensure a smooth transition for refugee students and empower them to reach their full potential.  Somali Regional Education Bureau

A countdown to #WorldRefugeeDay: 10 Facts about #refugee higher education 4. Given the opportunity, refugees can compete with the best and brightest college students around the world.  Of the 29 students admitted to Elimisha Kakuma in cohorts 1 through 3, all 29 have received admission with funding to 21 universities in US, Canada, the UK, and Europe. To help the next cohort reach 100% admission+scholarship, donate today: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 5. Of the handful of organizations in Kakuma that help refugees access higher education abroad, Elimisha Kakuma is the only one that provides an intensive, 16-month program that ensures their academic and personal success in college. To support our students' academic success, donate today: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 6. There are only a handful of organizations in Kakuma that help refugees access higher education abroad. Elimisha Kakuma is the only one founded and led by former refugees who were raised in the camp. If you agree that leadership by those with lived experience is essential for improving refugee lives, donate today: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 7. Funding for refugee education is miniscule: as a former UNHCR education officer once observed, “donors often hesitate to direct funding to education because children don’t die immediately from a lack of it.” We believe that a lack of education – and thus a lack of hope – can nonetheless destroy a child’s spirit and shrink their life. If you agree, donate now: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 8. Refugees are barred by law from regular employment in Kenya, meaning that it is virtually impossible for them to pay tuition at in-country universities. To support Elimisha Kakuma’s mission of connecting refugee students with university scholarships internationally, donate here: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 9. In Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, with a population of over 250,000 people, fewer than 1% of high school graduates have access to higher education. To help us increase that number in line with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency goals, donate today: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc 10. Currently only 7% of refugees globally have access to higher education. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has pledged to increase that to 15% by 2030. You can support that pledge by donating to refugee-led Elimisha Kakuma: https://lnkd.in/d2QbSHVc