Robert
Kaimiessim has never wanted anything other than to be a teacher.
In his hometown of Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic,
he teaches third grade at primary school.
But Robert is no longer in Bangui. Following the coup d’etat
in March 2003, he was forced to flee, and, along with 40,000
of his compatriots, ended up in neighbouring Chad.
These refugees were far from helpless. They quickly formed a
committee to assist in the running of the four refugee camps
set up for them along Chad’s border with the CAR. Their
first priority was to ensure that the thousands of children
who came with them were still receiving an education.
Obstacles
Teachers were quickly identified amongst the refugee population,
but many obstacles remained: how to obtain books and teaching
materials, the organisation of curricula and, most important
of all, how to organise the education process so that the children
could continue once they returned to their home country.
Fortunately they were able to approach the Chad Red Cross (CRT)
Society, whose deputy secretary general, Iré Kertouma,
is himself a teacher. He immediately made an agreement with
the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) to supply books and materials
and called upon RCT volunteers to build shelters in which to
house the classes.
He was also able to negotiate an agreement with the education
authorities of the Central African Republic whereby examinations
that take place in the camp and diplomas granted by the camps’
education committees will be recognised once the children have
returned home.
“It is vital that these children continue their education,”
Kertouma says. “It is a lack of education that causes
poverty and conflict.”
Eager to learn
The schools are not comfortable; classes take place in two shifts
and in open-sided shelters with just a roof of plastic sheeting
to protect the children and teachers from the burning sun and
the torrential rain of the rainy season. Desks and benches are
made from bamboo poles.
But despite the Spartan conditions, the children are eager to
learn and classes are well attended. Members of the education
committee visit families whose children miss classes to find
out if there are problems.
The children learn French, Arabic, mathematics and science as
well as history and geography. They are also taught the principles
of basic hygiene including how to use and look after a latrine.
These lessons are shared with their parents and thus contribute
to keeping the camps healthy.
The classes are not only good for the children. Robert Kaimiessim
too is grateful. “I had no idea what to expect when I
left the Central African Republic, I am just so pleased that
the CRT has given me the opportunity to continue my work as
a teacher,” he explains.
As well as education, the volunteers of the CRT transport all
the food and non-food items needed by the refugees from Goré,
where they are delivered by UNHCR and World Food Programme,
to the camp and distribute it.
The volunteers ensure that each family that arrives in the camp
receives a tent, blankets, cooking utensils, a jerry can for
carrying water and an initial food ration. Thereafter food is
distributed once each month.
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Conditions
may be basic in the camp, but the desire to learn is strong
(p10874)
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Robert
Kaimiessim thanks Iré Kertouma of the Chad Red
Cross for his help in setting up the education programme
for CAR refugees (p10873)
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Demand
for classes is so great, they have to be held in two shifts
(p10875)
One of the lessons children learn in school is the importance
of hygiene, and how to use the camp latrines (p10872)
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