Desk donations boosts inclusion and access to education for refugees

UNHCR recently provided more than 600 desks to urban schools

Bose Ogive Niyonkuru, 15 year Rwandese is a pupil at Kabiria primary school, one of 17 public schools that admits refugees and received desks from UNHCR. © UNHCR/Caroline Opile

By Caroline Opile, Nairobi Kenya  |  5 Mar 2020

Bose Ogive Niyonkuru, a 15 year old Rwandese learner strolls back into the class after a short break to enjoy the warmth of the sun and kick off the chills from the cold weather. Born and grewn up in Kenya, Bose learns alongside Kenyan at Kabiria Primary School, one of the 17 public schools that admits refugees and recently received desks from UNHCR, thanks to donations from The Big Heart Foundation.

My dream is to become a journalist

Initially, Bose was learning in an exclusive refugee school, but was yearning to study in a public school to improve her learning skills, especially English.

“My dream is to become a journalist,” says Bose, “That’s why I needed to improve my English.”

Her parents fled from Rwanda before she was born. The last born in a family of three children explains that her desire is to document stories of vulnerable people so that they can find help and hope.

“I want to write stories about displaced persons and visit camps to help in fundraising for vulnerable refugees.”.

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Bose Ogive Niyonkuru, a Rwandese refugee with her Kenyan classmates, Lydia Wanjiru and Emmanuel Osindi, schooling Kabiria Primary, a public school in Nairobi. © UNHCR/Caroline Opile

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Learners in class two at Kabiria Primary school, one of the crowded classrooms with more than 100 pupils.

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Refugee students in primary level 4 with their headteacher at Kabiria Primary, one of the public schools in Nairobi that admit refugees. © UNHCR/Caroline Opile

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Alice Mogeni, the headteacher of Kabiria Primary School in Nairobi sits in one of the classrooms that received desks from UNHCR.

With a broad smile, Bose is appreciative of the UNHCR gesture to donate desks to her school that has more than 2,000 students, 91 of whom are refugees. She notes that the desks have reduced congestion in the classrooms especially for the standard 8 class.

Lydia Wanjiru, a 15 year old Kenyan student concurs that it was an honor to receive additional desks from UNHCR.

“Some people did not have desks, but now we can write and sit comfortably”

Wanjiru, who dreams of being a surgeon happily recounts her experience learning with refugees.

“Refugees are kind and helpful to us, I enjoy learning with Bose.”

The desks have reduced congestion in the classrooms

Bose is one of the refugee students who receives school uniforms from UNHCR through its education partner, Francis Xavier Project to ensure that she does not drop out of school.

Alice Mogeni, the head teacher, has been teaching in the school for 13 years. She notes that the Kenyan funded school accommodates very desperate children in need from the catchment area in Dagoretti Sub County in Nairobi. Majority of the children who need additional support are refugees.

“Refugee students are humble, hardworking and obedient,” says Alice. “Most of refugees in Kabiria primary school are qualified to join national secondary schools.”

With the additional desks, she has been able to provide a dignified learning space for children.

Alice goes beyond her call of being a teacher and follows up on the refugee children that complete primary school education to ensure that no one left behind. She mobilizes other teachers to assist in paying school fees for refugee children in need, in order to ensure them to join secondary school.

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Refugee and Kenyan students at Kangemi primary school in Nairobi, one of the schools that receives urban refugees in Nairobi.© UNHCR/Caroline Opile

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A new classroom was commissioned in Kangemi primary school with desk donations UNHCR with funding from The Big Heart Foundation. © UNHCR/Caroline Opile

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Refugee students at Kangemi Primary School that will be sitting for the national exams in 2020. The deputy teacher, Victoria Kioko is their greatest motivator to dream and be the best © UNHCR/Caroline Opile

On another part of town, a calm and serene environment ushers one into Kangemi primary school. Its one of the public schools in Nairobi that also received a donation of 36 desks.

The deputy teacher, Victoria Kioko who has taught for 12 years remains grateful for the desk donations.

“With the desk donations, the school commissioned a new classroom for standard 8 pupils to reduce classroom congestion and provide a conducive learning environment for students as they prepare for national primary examinations in 2020.”

UNHCR recently provided more than 600 desks to urban schools to enable Kenyan and refugee children learn in a safe and comfortable environment, thus improving access to education in primary schools. Kenya continues to host close to 500,000 refugees, 16% of whom are in urban areas, majority being school going children.

With the desk donations, the school commissioned a new classroom

“The need for inclusion of refugees in the services provided by the host country cannot be overemphasized. Education remains one of the key areas for both UNHCR and the Government of Kenya,” says Margaret Njayakio, UNHCR’s Assistant Education Officer.

The refugee children in urban areas attend public schools funded by the Government of Kenya with the support from UNHCR. The schools are often congested, yet there is always room for one who dreams for a better future.