Education Cannot Wait Allocates $20 Million to Support Resilience in Chad's Education System
Education cannot wait has announced a significant $20 million grant aimed at enhancing the resilience of education in Chad, amid ongoing crises impacting the nation. This funding, which pushes the total financial support from Education Cannot Wait in Chad to over $61 million, is designed to directly address the educational needs of approximately 3.2 million children who are currently out of school. Implementation of this multi-year resilience program will be carried out by UNICEF in close collaboration with local and international partners. The challenges faced by Chad, one of the poorest countries globally, are compounded by various factors, including ongoing conflicts in neighboring Sudan, inter-community violence, climate change, and forced displacement of populations.
Yasmine Sherif, the director of Education Cannot Wait, emphasized the critical need for a united effort to support Chad's vulnerable populations, stating that the current demands vastly surpass available resources. This new grant will help fund educational programs targeting around 66,000 children and adolescents affected by crises. Sherif calls for increased contributions from both public and private sectors to ensure these children can access safe, quality learning environments.
The humanitarian situation in Chad is dire, with over a third of the population requiring urgent assistance. More than 1.7 million individuals are currently displaced, including 1.2 million refugees. The education system is significantly strained, making it imperative to enhance resources owing to the influx of refugees from the Sudanese conflict and returnees from the Central African Republic. The need for educational support is paramount, with many children being unable to attend school due to high fees, natural disasters exacerbated by climate change, and the overall quality of education often leaving much to be desired.
The initiative not only seeks to provide education but also aims to endorse social protection for refugees and their host communities. The Chad government, alongside UNICEF, is making strides to integrate refugee children into the national education system and thus reinforce the country's solidarity towards displaced populations. The principal aim of the grant is to strengthen educational resilience, particularly in the Ouaddaï and Logone Oriental regions, which are among the hardest hit by the crises.
Dr. Marcel Ouattara, UNICEF's interim representative in Chad, expressed gratitude towards Education Cannot Wait for their unwavering commitment to ensuring children in crisis zones can access education. He stated that with the dedicated efforts of all involved parties, lives can indeed be transformed, leading to brighter futures for the youth of Chad.
The program, funded through this catalytic grant, will lead to training over 1,500 teachers in conflict resolution, psychosocial support, and mental health issues. Furthermore, it addresses several critical areas, including the registration of children for civil rights, inclusion of vulnerable girls, and tailored educational pathways for children with disabilities.
Education Cannot Wait urges further donations from both public and private sectors to expand their capacity to assist even more at-risk children and youth in Chad and similar crisis-hit regions. The organization recognizes that timely access to education is not merely a privilege but an essential right for every child, echoing the sentiment shared during the global refugee forum.
In summary, this initiative marks a pivotal step towards sustaining educational efforts in Chad during challenging times, demonstrating the power of collaborative humanitarian support to make a lasting impact in the lives of vulnerable communities.