We are all human beings!
- S.Shaw
- Oct 5, 2017
- 2 min read
RIGHT NOW, today, through no fault of their own, there are millions of displaced people living in challenging global environments.
I read an article by the International Rescue Committee 'What's in my bag?' which describes what refugees pack in a bag when running for their lives.
This article featured adults and children who before the conflict in their home town/city/village had a job and opportunities for education. It left me thinking how I, as an educator of the future generation can help and support them? What can I actively do? What can I offer?
The following video 'Clouds Over Sidra' follows the daily life of a 12 year old girl - Sidra. She has been living in a refugee camp for over a year and dreams of one day returning to her much loved country of Syria.
The emotional journey that Sidra takes us on throws up many points that I am looking forward to researching further.
What could the students that are not interested in going to school be encouraged to do during each day? How could new skills be introduced and taught to help them re-build their communities? The fact that only the boys are using digital technology and it's only being used for games concerns me. If technology was available to all students they would have access to a world of information and could pursue their own educational interests on-line. Sidra enjoyed playing football which is something she wouldn't have been allowed to do back home in Syria but the games had to be quick because of the amount of children within the group that wanted to play. Could further 'spaces' be set up and more sports equipment made available so more games could be played simultaneously? There was a 'space' designated for exercise and Sidra mentioned weights. The older boys and men used this area to get strong for their journey home but it could also be extended to provide psychosocial programs to help with social and emotional skills that are necessary to succeed and cope with challenges.
The fact that Sidra's mother cooks familiar food each night and the family sit down together to eat reminded me of my own family meal times and resonated with me just how lucky we are to be here in Australia!!
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