#Bangladesh #Education Cannot Wait #Save the Children #Cox's Bazar #Sofaida

The Journey of Sofaida: Hope Amidst Adversity

As the sun rises over the refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, the soft light illuminates the intricate maze of pathways separating thousands of makeshift shelters. Among those shelters resides 14-year-old Sofaida, the youngest of ten children, who faces daily challenges due to a physical disability that complicated her ability to attend school.

After fleeing violence in Myanmar in 2017, Sofaida struggled to adapt to her new life in Bangladesh. Her family’s situation was dire, marked by uncertainty and hardship in the overcrowded refugee camps. Fire, flooding, and violence created a precarious environment for the families, who lacked access to formal education and stable employment.

Initially, Sofaida's father carried her to a learning center daily. Yet, as she neared puberty, cultural barriers emerged, and her family stopped taking her to school. The pandemic further disrupted her educational prospects, leaving Sofaida with no formal schooling for years.

Fortunately, in 2022, she enrolled in a community-based learning facility supported by Save the Children and Education Cannot Wait (ECW) that caters specifically to young girls, including those with disabilities. These centers, operated by female teachers from both Bangladesh and the Rohingya community, ensure that girls can safely pursue their education nearby.

Following her enrollment, Sofaida expressed her enthusiasm for learning, remarking, _