Migration, armed conflict, internal displacement, climate change and other interrelated factors have resulted in over 780,000 children being unable to attend school. Conducted by the Norwegian Refugee Council and UNICEF in coordination with the Government of Colombia and local partners, the program aims to mobilize additional financial resources and offer over 180,000 children and young people the security and opportunity of a high-quality education.
NEW YORK, 9 August 2024 /CNW/ — Numerous challenges hamper efforts to achieve peace, stability and economic progress in ColombiaTo address these challenges, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and its strategic donor partners today announced a 12 million US dollars A grant from the multi-year resilience programme will provide over 180,000 children and young people with access to high-quality education.
Total ECW funding in Colombia now tops 28 million US dollarsAround the Venezuela ECW invested approximately EUR 100 million in the regional refugee crisis. 70 million US dollars to date in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru And Venezuela.
The second phase of ECW’s multi-year resilience programme in Colombia will expand the scope of existing investments with the aim of overcoming barriers to quality education for migrant, refugee and internally displaced children and is jointly implemented by the Norwegian Refugee Council and UNICEF as a consortium with Corporación Infancia y Desarrollo (CID), Corporacion Opción Legal and Fundación PLAN in coordination with Colombia’s Ministry of National Education.
Colombia Venezuela continues to be among the four countries with the highest number of internally displaced people in the world and hosts the largest number of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in the region, with around 2.86 million. Numerous Venezuelan migrants cross Venezuela’s borders to move to other countries in search of protection and better opportunities. Climate risks and other challenges have also led to massive internal displacement.
“Without access to quality education, these children face significant risks, including gender-based violence, recruitment into armed groups, discrimination and other violations of their human rights. To ensure peace and stability in Colombiaand throughout the region we need to invest in their training. Colombia deserves the unlimited potential of today’s children and young people. Their education is not a luxury – it is a right,” said Yasmine SherifExecutive Director of Education Cannot Wait, the United Nations global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises.
Despite the government of Colombia’s groundbreaking open door policy that allows internally displaced persons and children from Venezuela to access public schools, registries and other public services, the education system is severely underfunded and overburdened. Overall, 787,000 children are out of school. Only 57% of Venezuelan refugee and migrant children of primary school age attend school, while the figure drops to just 22% in lower secondary education. Refugee, migrant and internally displaced children are at high risk of dropping out of school; nearly two in ten drop out altogether.
“Colombia is committed to peace education, which is why we integrate comprehensive education in schools that includes socio-emotional and citizenship-building components. The program supported by Education Cannot Wait contributes to this national effort to ensure access to the right to education for historically segregated populations, including migrant and host communities, as well as victims of conflict and violence. This initiative emphasizes the need to promote pedagogical practices based on experiences for and with the educational community and advocates for the appreciation and respect of the diversity of people and their learning conditions. This comprehensive approach seeks the full development of children and young people in vulnerable situations and aims to combat the deep inequalities that prevail in our country, especially in scattered rural areas,” added Oscar SanchezDeputy Minister of Education, Preschool, Primary, Secondary and Higher Education.
The new funding will increase the impact and reach of ECW’s investments in Colombiawhich have already reached almost 100,000 children since 2019. The programme aims to remove barriers to access to quality education for migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons affected by armed conflict and violence in ColombiaIt also aims to ensure that early school leavers are introduced into the education system through multiple learning pathways tailored to their needs and that they are supported in acquiring the necessary basic knowledge and skills.
In total, the program will provide 183,000 girls and boys with access to formal and non-formal education. In addition, over 50,000 out-of-school children will be included in ECW-funded programs. The program places great emphasis on inclusive access to education for girls, children with disabilities, migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons and other marginalized children. In total, 46,000 students will be supported in developing their civic and life skills.
On X/Twitter please follow: @EduCannotWait @YasmineSherif1 @KentPage
For more information, see: www.educationcannotwait.org
View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/education-cannot-wait-scales-up-investments-in-colombia-with-us12-million-catalytic-multi-year-resilience-programme-grant-total-funding-now-tops-us28-million-302218584.html
SOURCE: Education cannot wait
View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2024/09/c7350.html
