Fiji
Education in Emergencies Project
Education is essential for all children, but it is especially important for the tens of millions of children affected by emergencies – manmade or natural disasters. Yet for millions of children affected by disaster and crisis, the right to education remains an unfulfilled promise. Worldwide approximately 75 million children miss out on the chance of school education; more than half of these children live in conflict-affected states. Millions more are living in areas affected by natural disasters.
AusAID is currently funding Save the Children, as the co-lead agency alongside UNICEF of the Education Cluster, on the Education in Emergencies (EiE) Capacity Building Project for the Asia Pacific region until 2013.The objective of the project is to strengthen the EiE capacities of the Ministries of Education and of Save the Children who will assist in providing education for children during an emergency. The target countries for this year include Fiji plus the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam. Save the Children also works closely with regional and local partners including UNICEF, UNOCHA, National Disaster Management Offices and NGO’s on EiE.
Historically, education was seen as part of longer-term development work rather than a necessary intervention in emergency response; humanitarian relief typically involved the provision of food, shelter, water and sanitation and healthcare. In emergency settings, our education work helps children not only recover from the disaster, but improve their opportunities and realise their potential. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, destroy schools, damage education facilities, and displace or kill large numbers of teachers, students and parents. During natural disasters, families may be unable to send their children to school due to the cost of school fees, school materials, food, uniforms or other clothing. In such situations, an education response seeks to enable education activities to continue and helps children to be ready to learn despite the obstacles. A growing body of evidence on education’s life-saving and life-sustaining role has resulted in a change in beliefs, with education now included in the planning and provision of humanitarian relief.
In emergency situations, quality education provides physical, psychosocial and cognitive protection, which can be both life-sustaining and life-saving. Education mitigates the psychosocial impact of conflict and disasters by fostering a sense of normality, stability, structure and hope for the future. Quality education can save lives by providing physical protection from the dangers and exploitation that may arise from a conflict or disaster. For example, when a child is in a safe learning environment, he or she is less likely to be sexually or economically exploited, or exposed to other risks, such as recruitment into or joining a fighting group or organized crime. In addition, education can promote life-saving information to strengthen critical survival skills and coping mechanisms, such as how to avoid landmines; how to protect against sexual abuse; how to prevent HIV/AIDS, and how to access health care and food distribution. Education in emergencies also provides cognitive protection by supporting intellectual development through the teaching of literacy, numeracy, and study skills. It can also teach peace building and conflict resolution. Put simply it can provide the essential building blocks for future economic stability.
For further information: http://www.savethechildren.net/alliance/media/photoessay/2010_education_in_emergencies