“I was a teacher back in Burundi before I came here.  I taught Psychology at a secondary school for three years in Burundi. I am 33-years-old Burundian refugee. I traveled here alone to escape persecution.

I majored in Clinical Psychology and when I finished my education, I decided to teach at a local secondary school back home. I have always had a passion for teaching.

The situation in Burundi forced me to flee to Tanzania in fear of my safety. I had no other option. All because I was not a member of a certain party and had defied pressure to join them. I left behind my wife, two children and parents after receiving death threats.

I think about my family every day. I have not talked to them in a long time. An International call for 1 minute and 50 seconds from Tanzania to Burundi can cost around 2,000 Tanzania Shillings or US$ 1. I rarely have access to cash. Hence, it is very difficult for me to get in touch with my family back home.

I want to show my resilience. Therefore, I have chosen to stay productive while staying in the camp. In 2015, I volunteered to be an Education Coordinator through an initiative introduced by Caritas with support from UNHCR and UNICEF that provides an opportunity for refugee children to study in schools established within the premises of the camp. I was elected by the community for this Education Coordinator’s volunteer position. I have embraced this position wholeheartedly.

These children are the sons and the daughters of Burundi. I cannot leave them struggling. In my heart, I know these are our children and we have to help them get the education that they deserve so that one day they can bring about change in our country and prevent future generations from experiencing the ordeal we have suffered.

The refugee children in Nduta camp do not have access to proper classrooms. UNHCR together with partners have worked to provide temporary structures that have been utilized for safe areas to study. Some, however, are still studying under trees due to limited funds that can be used to set up new classrooms and accompanying facilities like latrines. There is a massive difference between teaching here in the camp and back in Burundi. Here, there are no materials like books which are extremely important for us to use.

For the most part, refugee children walk barefoot with no uniforms to the temporary structures set in the camp every day. We are very thankful for the initiative being introduced by Caritas with support from UNHCR and UNICEF. Thanks to this initiative, we have an avenue to provide access to education for Burundian children in Nduta refugee camp. I hope that we will be able to build more classrooms through this support.”

Published by Stephen Mhando, UNHCR

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