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Meet the teachers giving Rohingya children the chance to keep learning

Meet the teachers giving Rohingya children the chance to keep learning

This month marks one year since the escalation of the Rohingya crisis – which saw hundreds of thousands of people flee Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh, to escape the outbreak of violence.

Thanks to your support for our Rohingya Crisis Appeal, we’re working with both Bangladeshi and Rohingya teachers in Cox’s Bazar, where many families are living, as they dedicate their time and energy to making sure children in the camps can continue their learning.

As well as supporting them to teach English and Burmese, we’re also training them to offer psychosocial support – so they can help their pupils begin processing the trauma they’ve experienced, and cope better with the daily stresses and upheaval of life in the camp.

Meet Dil, 19

If the children are very distressed, then I can lead the exercises to help them be happier.

Dil, 19, is a teacher in the camps in Cox's Bazar

“I signed up to be a teacher so that the community can be educated. I enjoy English the most. My mother likes that I’m a teacher. She’s really proud.

“In the psychosocial training I learned breathing exercises and concentration and balance exercises. The training was enjoyable – I was really happy to have the opportunity to attend.

“The skills I learned will be helpful to support all the children in my class, to help them get balance for their stress and to support their feelings.”

Meet Rake, 20

Whatever I teach I enjoy it very much. The students, they’re happy – and then I’m even happier.

Rake, 20, is a teacher in the camps in Cox's Bazar

“I teach three classes a day in the learning centre in the camp. I feel really good teaching the Rohingya children. They’re very interested in my teaching and they tell me they’re surprised at how much they can learn here. The psychosocial training will be very good for them.

“Education is important for them because they will need it wherever they go. I enjoy teaching English, and there are Burmese teachers here too.”

Meet Sadia, 24

I decided to teach because I can teach others and learn.

Sadia, 24, is a teacher in the camps in Cox's Bazar

“I was teaching as a private tutor in Myanmar for two years then here, in Bangladesh, for five months. I enjoy teaching very much.

“It’s very important to have access to education. It can help people do many types of work. I enjoyed the psychosocial training and will provide it to my children with joy. It’s really important to keep them balanced.”

Teachers take part in a psychosocial training session in Cox's Bazar

Our response: the importance of psychosocial support

In the aftermath of an emergency, psychosocial support is vital for communities who have experienced trauma. In Bangladesh, as well as providing training for teachers like Dil, Rake and Sadia, we’re establishing community support groups and setting up child-friendly spaces, so girls and boys have a safe place away from their tents to play, make friends and get the support they need to cope with daily life.

ROHINGYA CRISIS APPEAL

Your support has helped us provide emergency relief to children in desperate need

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