Helping children return to school

Central African Republic, Baoro. Fadimatou is seven years old. Her family fled to Cameroon to escape persistent violence in their hometown.

Now, Fadimatou and her family are among the Central African refugees who have recently returned home, resolved to start again.

With limited resources and sporadic outbreaks of violence, life remains uncertain. But for Fadimatou and other children, going to school is a first step toward normalcy and a better future.

Like thousands of displaced children, Fadimatou’s education was disrupted by all the moving around.

She was just a toddler when her family left CAR. Upon their return, her parents enrolled her in school, but she often felt left out because she didn’t have the school supplies she needed.

“I didn’t have a bag or anything to write with, and sometimes I stayed home because I felt different,” she quietly says.

A Central African NGO, Association des Humanitaires pour le Dévelopement (AHD), with support from the CAR Humanitarian Fund, provided essential school kits to 1,805 children, including 847 girls and 958 boys, ensuring that vulnerable children, including Fadimatou could fully participate in their education.

The NGO also led awareness sessions with families whose children are out of school, to encourage their return to education.

For Fadimatou, the school supplies made a big difference.

“It makes me happy to have my own things to write with now,” Fadimatou says, smiling. “I feel safe at school and want to keep going. I hope other kids in my neighborhood can get the same help next year.”

Published December 2024

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