by Linda Whiting

Created on: November 25, 2009   Last Updated: November 29, 2009

Looking at Emergency Education practices in African refugee camps can have a sense of hopelessness and sadness about them. The camps consist of people who lost their homes and the way of life. Some children in the refugee camps are separated from their family and/or lost one or both of parents. Camps are dirty, disease filled, restrictive and overcrowded environments. The camps are usually in isolated parts of the host country or sparse people so as not to take land away from the host residents.

The camps were created in 1951 by the UNCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees). These camps were meant to help people escape social, psychological, and economical devastations. The camps were meant to be temporary, but some have become permanent such as Ein-el Hilwek in Lebanon.

These camps were set up by the government of the host country and the United Nations along with help from other groups such as UNICEF and UNESCO. UNICEF, now known as United Nations Children's Fund (once known as United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund), and UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization help bring education to the children. They work with the host government, the people of the camp and others involved with refugees.

Every child (and adult) needs an education. Education is the only way to stop poverty and get people either to repatriate or to get comfortable with their host government. It is important for the people involved to have respect for the culture of the refugees.

The world's future will be lost to those who have anger in their heart if nothing is done to help educate the children. Young children need links to family or social networks. Young refugees need an outlet, but the camps are restrictive. Rebels will recruit young boys from the camps by either kidnapping them or bribing them.

For the children who do want to have an education, there are roadblocks. They have to help with the chores; they do not always have clean clothes and may be malnourished. Children do not go to school without having clean clothes or they are not clean. They do not get new clothes except when they first get to the camp. They barely have enough water for drinking water and cooking let alone for washing their clothes. The children help with cutting of firewood or taking care of younger children.

The UNESCO provides the camps with TEP (Teachers Emergency Packages). This organization helps to get education to the children of the camps. The

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