South Sudan: “I want to go to school by any means.” Education, the Hope at Refugee Camp

Because of continuous disorder caused by civil war in South Sudan since December 2013, more and more people have fled to Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, a neighboring country of South Sudan. In order to provide emergency assistance, Naoki UMEDA and Daiki TSUCHIKAWA, AAR staff members in South Sudan, visited the site on February 3rd to conduct a field survey. Despite increasing numbers of refugees, water supply is acutely inadequate at the camp. There also arises another problem of insufficient education for the children. Daiki TSUCHIKAWA reports on the latest situation.

Refugees are on the increase, but schools are insufficient

About 100,000 refugees from neighboring countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia, Burundi, as well as South Sudan live in Kakuma Refugee Camp which was founded in 1992. Since many of the refugees are unable to return to their home countries, schools have been set up for these children. There are 6 nursery schools, 17 elementary schools, and 5 junior high schools in the camp. However, due to an influx of new refugees from South Sudan, they urgently need more schools.
Considering this situation, LWF (Luther World Federation), an international NGO, set up a new school at Kakuma Refugee Camp. On February 3rd, under the 5 tents provided by UNICEF (The United Nations Children’s Fund), around 1,700 children ranging from kindergarten to 3rd grade of elementary school are studying in this new school. However, there’s no desks or chairs, only some mats on the ground. Although the number of children is expected to grow, the school has almost reached its capacity and children over 4th grade of elementary school are not accepted into the school.

5 tents are used as a school. However the school has almost reached its enrolment limit due to capacity constraints.
(Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, February 4th, 2014)

More schools and educational equipment, such as tents, strong enough to withstand sandstorms, and desks are in need for the growing numbers of children. The tents currently being used for schools are not strong enough and a lot of sand comes into the classroom. Although there are neither blackboards nor desks, the children are still anxious to study under the tough circumstances.

There are 17 teachers in the new school and they are all refugees. Former teachers and other dedicated people voluntarily teach the children. (Daiki TSUCHIKAWA (right) AAR staff: Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, February 4th, 2014)

Children gathering in the new “school”, which is a tent with no equipment. They are taking a lesson without any chairs or desks. (Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, February 4th, 2014)

 

Provide a place to study for youth, who have been robbed of their ordinary lives

Joseph is an 18 year old former soldier and a Nuer. He took part in the recent battle and while he was patrolling in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, he witnessed the soldiers of Dinka, the opponent ethic group, killing Nuer residents without hesitation. This convinced him that it was just a matter of time before he would be killed. Then, he threw away his weapon and escaped immediately. He changed buses and finally managed to reach Kakuma Refugee Camp. He said, “I’m glad that the public safety is maintained and nobody own firearms at the camp. I'm going to go to school.”
At Kakuma Refugee Camp, I encountered a number of young people who are eager to receive education. A boy in his late teens said, “In my hometown, I looked after cattle and goats and had no options for schooling. But I don’t have any livestock here. I want to start studying from the 1st grade of elementary school.”  A boy of 18 said, “I lost my parents and relatives in this battle and I came to the camp all by myself. I cannot tell what will happen to me, but I do want to go to school by any means.” Having education is a hope at the refugee camp not only for small children but also for young people who have been robbed of their ordinary lives.

Children gathering around AAR staff, Naoki Umeda after their class. (Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, February 4th, 2014)

AAR plans to continue its survey and provide refugees with much needed assistance such as water supply and educational support, coordinating with other humanitarian organizations so as not to duplicate the support. Activity reports will be updated on the AAR website. We appreciate your support.

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[Reporter]
Daiki TUCHIKAWA AAR JAPAN South Sudan Office (profile as of the date of the article)
Started working at AAR in October 2012. He has been dispatched to South Sudan since April 2013. After graduating from a university, he worked as a system engineer and senior high school teacher. Afterwards, majored development study at graduate school in Australia. Born in Iwate Prefecture and grew up in India.

Radio drama capturing the fear of landmines and UXOs airs in Sudan

Landmines and unexploded ordinance (UXO) from the civil war put people's lives at risk even after the conflict's end Until all the remaining landmines are cleared, AAR dedicates itself to educating the people in Sudan, Afghanistan, and Laos so that those living in landmine-affected areas will not become victims of such weapons. We advise them on how best to avoid becoming involved in landmine-related accidents in their daily lives, and what to do when they come across landmines or UXO, taking into consideration the local customs and values. Here is a report from Ms. Harumi Kawagoe, an AAR staff from Khartoum Office in Sudan.

Original teaching materials reflecting a variety of cultural aspects

People in Sudan have been tormented by the countless landmines and UXO planted and dropped during the civil war lasting for more than 20 years. Since 2006，AAR has visited many villages, providing information sessions with our original teaching materials such as posters, flip charts, and songs.  As of January 31, 2014, we have reached 88,483 people in Sudan and raised awareness of the risks and threat of landmines and UXOs. For the local people to have better understanding of these sessions, we have created our own teaching materials that are compatible with the customs and cultures in the area. Before we begin to deliver these sessions, we conduct interviews with local people and children in the target area to find out their awareness level of their own culture as well as the risks of landmines and UXOs, and the results are reflected in our material development.

"We were anxious to find out what would become of Yasir," said the children who listened to the prototype of our radio drama. They enjoyed the content. (Kassala, February 2013)

South Sudan: Conducting Research at a Refugee Camp

In South Sudan, fighting triggered by political conflict has persisted since December 2013. As a result of the fighting between the ethnic groups of Kiir's Dinka and Nuer, thousands have been killed, 700,000 have been internally displaced, and 130,000 have fled abroad. <UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) 2014/2/3>

With an aim to provide emergency assistance, Naoki UMEDA and Daijo TSUCHIKAWA from AAR’s South Sudan office have been conducting research since February 3 at the Kakuma refugee camp.  Located in the northwest of Kenya, it has been flooded with refugees. This report is written by Naoki UMEDA.

Established in 1992, the Kakuma refugee camp is the largest refugee camp in the world with approximately 100,000 refugees. Buses operated by UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) arrive at Kakuma camp daily with refugees who have fled to Nadapal, Kenya, located along the South Sudan border. 

On average, the camp accepts 400 refugees daily. After taking vaccines and completing refugee registration in Nadapal, the refugees are then taken to Kakuma by bus, where they spend the first night at the temporary tent area beside the reception center. 

New arrivals are given some food, a mat and a blanket to spend the first night at this temporary accommodation (Kakuma, Kenya, February 3rd, 2014) 

Emergency Assistance following Typhoon in the Philippines: Regaining workplace for persons with disabilities

On November 8th, 2013, the Philippines was struck by the fierce Typhoon Haiyan (locally know as Yolanda). 
Association for Aid and Relief, Japan (AAR Japan) has deployed its staff members to the affected site since November 14th and has been carrying out humanitarian aid activities such as food distribution and provision of building materials to rebuild houses. As of this date, 2 staff members are based in Cebu City, Cebu Province and are continuously assisting on reconstruction.

Workshop for persons with disabilities submerged under water

Tacloban People with Disabilities Cooperative (TAPDICO), located in Tacloban City, northeast of Leyte Island, is one of the facilities that suffered heavy damage following Typhoon Haiyan. The Cooperative, whose mission is to promote the self-reliance of persons with disabilities, owns a small furniture workshop on the hillside of Tacloban and was manufactures furniture such as desks and chairs for elementary schools. Out of 35 employees, approximately 80% are persons with disabilities.
On the day of the typhoon, vast amounts of rain water flooded in from the upper side of the mountain and the workshop was submerged. Machinery used for manufacturing furniture was damaged and most of the materials became unusable.

Iron pipes for furniture material (pictured right rear) had been rendered unusable from rust. Ms. Yemarin, the Representative of the Cooperative meets with (pictured right) Mr. Noriyasu OKAYAMA of AAR (pictured left) (December 22nd, 2013)

At the workshop, parts of roof had been blown away and many of the machines had become unusable after being submerged. Ms. Jyuli HIROYA of AAR inspecting the damage (December 22nd, 2013)

“Thank you. Now we can reopen the workshop.”

AAR has assisted on rebuilding the workshop. On December 29th, 2013, we delivered four machines that are indispensable to the manufacturing of desks and chairs (Compressor (compress the air to be utilized as power source for the tools), welding machine, motor, and electrical saw), as well as raw materials such as lumber to be used in manufacturing ordered items for the time being. The representative, Ms. Yemarin, says she had received offers after the typhoon to go work in Manila, thus closing the workshop, but had been searching for a means to reopen the workshop and continue to work with the facility. She had told us “(I am) truly thankful to all your support.”



With new machinery delivered, the workshop will once again come to life. Noriyasu OKAYAMA pictured left. In the center of the photo, Ms. Yemarin in orange shirt. The two people to the right are staff members of the Cooperative. Machinery from the left: compressor, motor, cutter, welding machine (December 29th, 2013)

The work has begun with the supplied machinery. Workshop staff cutting iron pipe using the cutter (January 14th, 2014)

The workshop makes schools chairs such as these shown in the photo. Welding machine supplied by AAR Japan, pictured center back. (January 14th, 2014).

AAR will continue to support and work in Leyte Island and the northern parts of Cebu Island with a focus on persons with disabilities in activities such as the provision of reconstruction materials.

【Reporter】Profile as of the date of article publication

Jyuli HIROYA, Tokyo Office
Worked as an Intern in Kenya with an NGO after graduating from university. Joined AAR Japan in January 2009, after working in the private sector. Worked as part of a team in Emergency Assistance for Typhoon in the Philippines in September, 2009. Was stationed in Southern Sudan from June 2012 to September 2013. Currently in Tokyo headquarter and is responsible for operations in the Philippines and Kenya. (Born in Kanagawa Province)



Haiti: River is turning into a garbage dump! Raising public awareness of sanitation

AAR Japan started its assistance in Haiti soon after the massive earthquake hit the country in January 2010, and its operation are still ongoing. Since February 2013, we have equipped latrines and fitted hand-washing stations at schools, together with organizing training workshops for school teachers on hygiene education as well as for schoolmasters and administration staff on school management. Our intention is to prevent the spread of cholera in Haiti, where half the number of cholera infections in the world is believed to exist.
In the long perspective, we aim to involve local residents and improve the hygiene conditions of the entire community.  Ryota Hirama from AAR’s Haiti office reports.

River is crucial for the local residents

The target area of AAR’s activity is Rivière Froid in the Carrefour region, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, the capital city. Rivière Froid means “cold river” in English. As the name suggests, a river flows in the middle of this area.

It is said that the name of the river comes from the fact that rivers are very important for Haitian people, as they are used to cool down their bodies. The river is one of the most important water sources for people in the area. When we pass through the neighborhood, we see a lot of women washing clothes along the riverside. A girl once told us that she was going for a shower when she was on her way  to the river. The river is indeed attached to Haitian people’s everyday lives.

The river is essential for the life of people in Haiti.

The Great East Japan Earthquake: We Hosted an Overnight Camp to Keep Kids Active

AAR Japan hosted the "Nishi-Aizu Kids Wonderland Academy" for children and their guardians from the Hamadori area in Fukushima who have not been able to play outside due to the high level of radiation. Starting from July 2011, this overnight camp event has aimed to provide the participating children and their parents with an opportunity to play outside, give them a chance to release stress and allow them to have fun, physical exercise. Junko MATSUURA from Tokyo office provided a report from the 8th camp held from November 2-3, 2013.

Day One: Tons of fun events. "Soon we became friends"

In addition to the children and their families coming from the City of Soma in Fukushima, we also invited participation from local children from the town of Nishi-Aizu to interact with them. The two-day event was attended by 12 families – 35 children and their parents in total – and filled with smiles and joys.

The Great East Japan Earthquake: “It’s All About Folk Songs” Entertainer Nekohachi EDOYA and Singers Conducted Performance Tours in Fukushima

Following Miyagi and Iwate, folk song performance tours were conducted in Fukushima

Entertainer Nekohachi EDOYA IV, who is well-known for his performance of mimicking animals and folk song singers, went on performance tours, in order to cheer up the people in the disaster-stricken areas. So far, along with AAR, they have visited Iwate Prefecture in December 2012, Miyagi Prefecture in January 2013, and temporary housing complexes and community centers in Fukushima Prefecture in February and June 2013. Moreover, in October and November 2013, they visited the inland parts of Fukushima Prefecture so as to encourage those who were away from their hometowns, influenced by the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant.

23rd October 2013 - Nekohachi EDOYA (front left) and others held folk song performances, visiting 4 or 5 venues a day. (Minami1-choume Temporary Housing, Fukushima)