BACK TO SCHOOL AGAINST THE ODDS
How children are overcoming climate change, conflict and other crises to continue learning
Millions of children are being robbed of an education simply because of who they are or where they live.
Across the world, conflict, climate change and rising living costs are making it even harder for children to go to school.
Yet there are also reasons for hope. In tough times, children see education as the key to safety, health and happiness. They will do whatever it takes to keep learning. Incredible children are overcoming huge challenges to make it to school and access a quality education.
Here are just some of the children who are going against the odds to continue learning and get their education.
Continue scrolling or click through the menu at the top to read their stories.
* Names changed to protect identities.
Note: All text in italics indicates a direct quote.
Battling pollution in Cambodia
“When we row the boat to school we pick up the trash.”
– Ratana, 12, Cambodia
Ratana
Every morning, 12-year-old Ratana sets off from her home on Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake by boat. She’s heading for a floating school supported by Save the Children.
As she rows she picks up friends along the way – and together they work to clear the rubbish that litters the lake.
When we row the boat to school we pick up the trash, and put it in our boat.”
Ratana, 12, travelling to school by boat on Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia. Photo: Linh Pham / Save the Children.
Ratana, 12, travelling to school by boat on Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia. Photo: Linh Pham / Save the Children.
Ratana and her friends care passionately about cleaning up the lake and have learned how to protect their environment through eco lessons at school. These are lessons that Save the Children has helped to introduce to the school’s curriculum. Ratana tells us:
I have learned about pollution, deforestation, and garbage... I’ve learned how to clean the environment.”
She is also spreading the word to her community about climate change and the importance of protecting the environment.
The elderly and adults should listen to children because we are now aware of the environment.”
It is children like Ratana and her friends who are this fishing community’s best hope of saving their lake and livelihood. It is her generation that is leading the fight against climate change across the world.
WATCH: Ratana's story. Video: Save the Children.
WATCH: Ratana's story. Video: Save the Children.
Rebuilding schools in Yemen
“The walls were painted with warning messages of Danger! Landmines, so it was no wonder that we felt afraid and unsafe.”
– Essam*, 12, Yemen
Essam* and Lina*
Essam and Lina are 12-year-old students in Taiz, Yemen. They attend a school that has been severely impacted by the war.
Around eight years ago, the school was partly destroyed in a bombing.
The war had destroyed two schools leaving only six classrooms in this one. The lack of windows made us shiver from the cold, which affected our ability to study and to write."
The facility is both cold due to a lack of windows and crowded due to a lack of desks. The dilapidated, unkempt state of what remains of the school makes learning difficult for the students.
In addition, landmines are a constant danger within as well as en route to the building, with several devices having exploded randomly in recent years.
It's been a long time since they came and planted the landmines and yet, unfortunately, some people
have walked down the road and stepped on them.
As a result, many students are afraid to enter the school grounds.
A sign reading 'Danger! Landmines" at a semi-destroyed school that's contaminated with landmines in Taiz, Yemen. Photo: Al-Baraa Mansoor / Save the Children.
A sign reading 'Danger! Landmines" at a semi-destroyed school that's contaminated with landmines in Taiz, Yemen. Photo: Al-Baraa Mansoor / Save the Children.
Despite these challenges to their education, Essam* and Lina* are determined to succeed.
Looking forward, they dream of the landmines being removed and their school being rebuilt so that they can study in safety. In the future, both Essam and Lina dream of becoming dentists.
At school, Essam and Lina are active members of the students’ council, which is supported by Save the Children. The students’ council is a platform for children to engage in leadership and community-building activities.
Through their involvement in the students’ council, Essam and Lina have been empowered to take leadership roles in promoting protection and well-being in their community.
They have led a project, with support from Save the Children, to paint some of the walls of their destroyed school and to draw flowers to brighten up its appearance.
A flower mural painted by children on the walls of a destroyed school in Yemen. Photo: Albaraa Mansoor / Save the Children
A flower mural painted by children on the walls of a destroyed school in Yemen. Photo: Albaraa Mansoor / Save the Children
The project has not only made the school more welcoming but it also showcases how the community’s children are willing to take action to make things better.
Save the Children works with young people like Ratana, Essam and Lina to give them agency in their pursuit of education.
Together with our partners, we are supporting them to build long-term, sustainable change in their communities.
Overcoming Syria's devastating earthquakes
“When the earthquake happened, our house cracked and began to shake. I feared, and my heartbeats went very fast.”
– Kareem*, 9, Syria.
Kareem*
Kareem*, 9, was terrified when the devastating earthquakes hit his house in Northern Syria. Months later, he was still scared of the tremors. His family sleep outside at night in a tent, afraid their damaged home might fall on them while they sleep.
Kareem* is attending a Child-Friendly Space managed by Save the Children's partner, the Bonyan Organisation.
Kareem* playing football with his friends at the space. Photo: Bonyan Organisation / Save the Children.
Kareem* playing football with his friends at the space. Photo: Bonyan Organisation / Save the Children.
The space is an educational centre within the school that Kareem attends, where there are activity sessions, psychological support programs, protection activities, and other psychosocial support activities that are provided to support children in the school.
I study and do my homework and the teacher teaches us. Here [at school] I am afraid if earthquake happens it shakes the ground. We fear that the ceiling might fall on us... I hope that there will be no earthquakes.
Kareem is becoming less afraid but he wishes the earthquake had never happened. He dreams of growing fruit with his father and becoming a doctor in the future.
Determined to get to school, no matter the weather
“I want to be educated and help my parents.”
– Tenneh, 13, Sierra Leone
Tenneh
In a remote village by a river in Sierra Leone, children are going to great lengths to get to school.
One of these children is Tenneh, a 13-year-old determined to get a good education. Her journey to school isn’t a typical one. She starts the day by crossing the river in her canoe, no matter what the weather brings.
When I am sitting in my boat on the way to school and the wind is blowing, I park the boat and wait for the wind to stop. Then I jump back into my boat quickly so I can get to school early.”
Tenneh's village is only accessible by boat. The river is a way of life for families, from washing clothes in the water to catching fish to eat.
I want to be educated and help my parents."
She wants to be a nurse, thanks to her hard work and supportive teacher.
I like the school... When the teacher gives us homework and we submit it, he corrects us nicely. He takes good care of us.”
Now Tenneh’s school stands out, with students achieving above the national average in their exams.
A portrait of Tenneh, aged 13, outside her school in Pujehun district, Sierra Leone. Photo: Jonathan Hyams / Save the Children.
A portrait of Tenneh, aged 13, outside her school in Pujehun district, Sierra Leone. Photo: Jonathan Hyams / Save the Children.
Save the Children is supporting schools in Sierra Leone so that young people, like Tenneh, can continue to learn and play. We provide uniforms, books, and desks.
Our teacher training programme makes sure that girls like Tenneh can stay in school and reach their potential.
No matter what, children are putting their education first so they can achieve their dreams. With a quality basic education, children are more likely to escape the cycle of poverty and fulfil their potential.
Save the Children is working with young people around the world to help them access the education they have the right to and to pursue their dreams.
We must support every child to get the education they deserve.
Watch our short film highlighting how children are doing whatever they can to keep their education despite challenges they face from climate change, conflict and rising living costs.
Watch our short film highlighting how children are doing whatever they can to keep their education despite challenges they face from climate change, conflict and rising living costs.
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