This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
On July 15, 2020, the UK government announced an emergency support package to protect the futures of the world's most vulnerable children during and after the coronavirus pandemic.
As part of this initiative, Sh155 million has been set aside to support the salaries of Kenyan teachers in refugee hosting communities, including Dadaab, Kakuma, and Kalobeyi.
According to Jane Marriott, the British High Commissioner to Kenya, the Covid-19 pandemic has presented huge challenges to all societies, and it's vital to support those most in need.
Teachers in Dadaab have been broadcasting programmes on the community radio station, Radio Gargaar, since the lockdown, demonstrating their dedication to ensuring children's education continues uninterrupted.
Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy for the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, emphasized the importance of education in providing a lifeline of opportunity for millions of children and youth.
As part of the initiative, 5669 teachers in ten countries, including Kenya, Chad, Malawi, Mauritania, Pakistan, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, and Yemen, will receive direct payments from UNHCR for 7 months.
“I am part of the 3 per cent of refugee youth who have access to tertiary education. As a refugee, I needed a skill that would give me control and would put me in a position to be useful and helpful in case there is need, whether it be another war or a pandemic like we have now,” said Bahati Ernestine Hategekimana, a Rwandan-born refugee living in Kenya and currently studying to be a nurse on a UNHCR scholarship.
