CONTEXT

Since October 2016, nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees have fled political persecution in Rakhine State, Myanmar into neighboring Bangladesh. With insufficient access to basic support and services, just 47% of children and a mere 3% of adolescents living in these camps have access to education.

The gaps in provision are illustrative of the sheer lack of capacity among local level organizations to cope with the scale and severity of the response, and underscore an urgent need for funding and personnel support to these organizations. 

HOW WE’RE SUPPORTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

Street Child is a critical actor in the crisis response. In recognition of our rigorous approach to capacity strengthening and commitment to localization, we are working with national organizations to increase local level capacities to respond to educational needs at the request of the United Nations Education Cluster. Our support will increase the number of actors able to respond to educational needs in emergencies, and offers a proven partnership model in humanitarian emergencies that catalyzes a shift towards scaling locally-led, self-sufficient and sustainable responses. 

Since 2018 Street Child has partnered with nine local organizations in Bangladesh to respond to the refugee crisis, providing immediate surge support and capacity strengthening support to our partners to ensure the quality of the response keeps up with its scale.

HOW WE’RE SUPPORTING ROHINGYA CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES

Street Child is supporting Rohingya refugee children by providing access to both face-to-face and remote education in Cox’s Bazar and on Bhasan Char Island. We are one of the very first INGO’s providing access to remote education on Bhasan Char Island, using solar-based audio devices to provide educational content that does not require internet or electricity. Community volunteers and social mobilizers are supporting the team to ensure that children are learning without barriers.

Additionally, we are running a gender-responsive learning center in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, to ensure that Rohingya refugee children receive face-to-face learning. Two teachers and a team of office staff are supporting children to create positive learning outcomes.