One million children out of school
Beate Simarud and NRC Colombia (30.08.2012)
Because of to the on-going conflict in Colombia are more than one million children currently out of school.
As a result of the armed conflict the access to education has become difficult in Colombia. Schools are forced to close down, and many of them are used for military purposes and as arenas for recruitment of child soldiers. Landmines and explosives are placed in areas around schools and there is a shortage of teachers due to threats and attacks. According to Watchlist, almost 900 teachers were killed, about 3000 was threatened, almost 1100 forcibly displaced and 60 reported “missing” between 1991 and 2011.
“Ever since the guerrilla killed my father in front of my eyes we had to flee and I dropped out of school”, tells Clemencia, a 12 years old girl who lives with her mother, two brothers and four sisters in a house built of wooden sticks. The little family lives in the province of Nariño situated close to the Ecuadorian boarder, which hosts some of the highest numbers of internal displaced people in Colombia.
Education in emergency
Education provides a protective environment for children, who are most at risk for exploitation, violence and abuse in the wake of emergencies and displacement. And for the displaced children going back to school, it holds a great meaning.
In Colombia, NRC rapid response program aims at addressing the education needs of conflict-affected children and youth in the acute phase of an emergency, when either the State or other organizations do not fulfil their right to education. The program also works towards strengthening institutional capacity, both authorities and also at local level, to meet education needs in an emergency.
Good future prospects
In Nariño, where Clemencia livs, has NRC trained more than 220 teachers and community people. 3,029 emergency school kits have been provided to displaced children and 20 schools have received supplementary pedagogical materials. The teaching material has motivated many boys and girls to return to school. So far have about 2,300 displaced children participated in education in emergency programs.
At home Clemencia does the dishes and takes care of her brothers. While doing her homework on the floor, she talks about her future prospects.
When I finish elementary school I want to go to high school. Then I want to work to help my family, as we are orphans now that dad is not here, she says, and continues
I would like to become a doctor, and have a nice house to live in with mother and my siblings.
NRC continues to work with teachers and the educational community in the rural area of Tumaco in Nariño, in order to strengthen their response to education in emergency situations.
Colombian Children at Risk
Colombia's 18 million children and adolescents make up about 40 percent of its total population. More than half of them live in poverty, while a quarter live in extreme poverty (surviving on less than $1 a day)
1.6 million children or youth (under the age of 18) are internally displaced 11,000 are child soldiers, of whom 25 percent are girls 4,000 children are killed by small arms each year 100 are killed each year by landmines more than 300 are kidnapped each year as many as 35,000 are child prostitutes 2.7 million are child labourers 30,000 street children are living in dangerous conditions
Children and youth account for more than half of Colombia's 3 million internally displaced people-the third highest number in the world. One out of every four guerrilla and paramilitary soldiers is under 18 years of age. Thousands of children in combat zones and cities are killed each year by small arms. Countless others live in dangerous conditions as street children, child labourers, child prostitutes.
The decades-long conflict affecting 75 percent of the country, massacres, landmines, and child recruitment have driven many families from rural areas to urban slums, where they lack adequate housing, jobs, or social services.
NRC in Colombia
Established: NRC started operations in 1991. Since 1993 is active in Colombia through PCS (Project Counscelling Service) and as an independent NGO from 2005.
Country Office: Bogotá
Cucuta and Ocaña (Norte de Santander), Pasto and Tumaco (Nariño), Santa Marta (Magdalena) and Bogotá
Ciudad de Panamá (Panama), Quito and Tulcan (Ecuador) and San Cristobal (Venezuela)
Budget 2012: USD 8.8 mill.
Budget 2011: USD 9,5 mill.
Budget 2010: USD 9,6 mill.
International staff: 3
National staff: 80
Contact NRC in Colombia
Country Director:
Atle Solberg
E-mail: nrc@nrc.org.co
Tel: +57 3134223614