In the face of overwhelming adversity, children like Safaa from Sudan and Tareq from Gaza find solace and hope in education. Safaa, who dreams of becoming a heart surgeon, is one of the millions of children affected by the ongoing crisis in Sudan. There, approximately 16.5 million people are internally displaced, with millions of children living in refugee camps. Education is scarce, available only through local initiatives within these camps. Meanwhile, in Gaza, over 600,000 children were deprived of formal education last year due to conflict. The BBC's programme "Dars," available on digital platforms such as BBC News Arabic YouTube and broadcast through lifeline radio services in Gaza and Syria, offers a "learning lifeline" for these children, unable to attend regular classes due to the turmoil around them.
"Dars" originated in 2023 for Afghan children and has expanded to support children across the Middle East and North Africa, where 30 million children are out of school. With new episodes airing weekly on Sundays at 05:30 GMT, the programme covers an array of subjects including mathematics, technology, climate change, and mental health. This initiative is a crucial educational resource for children like Tareq and Safaa, who live about 2,000 kilometers apart but share similar challenges.
The situation in Sudan is dire, with around 15,000 public schools severely impacted—60-70% have been completely destroyed. Sudan's education minister, Ahmed Khalifa, noted that "No state was spared," highlighting the widespread devastation affecting education infrastructure. In Gaza, the situation mirrors this destruction. Saleem Oweis from Unicef underscored the grim reality:
"over 600,000 children – that's all the school-aged children in Gaza – didn't get education" – Saleem Oweis, a spokesperson for Unicef.
Oweis further articulated the broader impact of these crises on educational prospects:
"We're seeing a pattern of how conflicts, insecurity and crises are inflicting real harm on children's education and learning" – Saleem Oweis, a spokesperson for Unicef.
For Tareq, the loss of his school was personal and profound:
"When I saw my school in ruins, a deep sadness overwhelmed me. I long for it to return to what it once was" – Tareq, 10, from Gaza.
Despite these challenges, Tareq remains resilient:
"Despite everything, I haven't stopped learning. I study at home, making sure not to waste a moment so when I do go back to school, I will be ready" – Tareq, 10, from Gaza.
Safaa's resolve is similarly inspired by her experiences:
"Bodies were scattered everywhere, which deeply moved me and made me want to save lives instead of seeing them being lost" – Safaa, 14, from Sudan.
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