Education in a Time of Coronavirus
Elizabeth Pennington is Communications Officer for Yesterday – Today - Tomorrow and a freelance Journalist. She plans to study a Masters Degree in International Development next year, with a focus on Education in Emergencies and War Crime.
*Names have been changed to protect the individuals’ identities.
When the first COVID-19 cases were announced last year, few expected such a Tsunami-like wave to follow. Now, almost ten months on, with approximately 30 million cases worldwide, and rising, in a WHO declared Pandemic, it is crucial that we do not ignore one of the most pressing global issues: children’s access to education.
In a recent campaign, Keeping Girls in the Picture, led by UNESCO, the pandemic could mean almost 11 million girls may never return to education. This places them at even greater risk of early child marriage and gender violence.
As the Communications Officer for a Global Education NGO, Yesterday- Today-Tomorrow (YTT), based in Paris, our team have seen firsthand the impact losing education has on a child’s well-being. Collectively, we have worked in over 40 refugee/migrant camps, centres and squats in over ten countries in Europe and North Africa, with hopes to expand further into conflict areas, where girls are at particular risk.
Since 2016, our research has led us to develop a Learning through Art & Theatre Approach focusing in two key areas: working in and for child/ youth populations in emergency situations, designing psychosocial support, children’s-rights and peace/capacity building programs and working within the formal school structure, were our programs promote inclusion, diversity and the reduction of prejudice/racism for children and teachers. These programs, in line with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, are adaptable to the local needs of the refugee, migrant and/or displaced populations.
Through our psychosocial support workshops, participants are invited to draw their past (Yesterday), their present (Today) and their future lives (Tomorrow). These drawings, collected from thousands of individuals since 2016, aged between 2-70 years old, have allowed us to create our visual database, sharing their stories, irrespective of one’s spoken language.
Our organisation’s Founder, Bryan Mc Cormack said: “With COVID, it is the most fragile populations that are the most affected. (...) Refugee education is or at least should be a priority for the world for the simple reason that having over 70 million refugee/displaced persons, the majority of whom are children, means that we are talking about an enormous percentage of humanity. (...) humanity is everyone’s responsibility.”
Reflecting on the educational impact, I am reminded of a 14 year old Afghan refugee, Amal* who we met in Serbia in 2018. Now 16 and in Germany, she wants to become an author. Through her drawing, she explained how she uses her love of learning to block negativity in her life.
Or Malek*, a nine-year-old Iraqi-Kurdistan refugee, too young to fully understand her trauma, yet articulate enough to explain how she returned from Church to find her family decapitated by ISIS, their bodies hung from a hook on the tree in the garden of their Mosul home.
Now 11 and fluent in four languages, Malek wants to become a doctor, win a Nobel Peace Prize and help her community recover after ISIS occupation.
Malek, like so many young refugees I have met, is not allowing their past to define their future.
As a human right, every child must have the opportunity to engage in education. I believe that education changes lives and saves lives. There is still a grave misunderstanding about who refugees are. At Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow, I hope we can be a small part of the larger conversation on inclusive education for refugee and migrant children and for education in emergencies worldwide.
Elizabeth Pennington • March 17, 2021
On 23rd January at the Cima Community School of Hope (ECEC), the first workshop was held with the first group of students as part of the STEM program. This activity marks a promising start to the program's implementation. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is crucial for children because it fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity from a young age. It nurtures natural curiosity, helps children understand the modern world, and builds resilience through hands-on experimentation. Additionally, early STEM exposure prepares them for future academic and career success. A total of 20 students participated in this first session. The session focused on a general presentation of the importance of computer programming in today's world. The students were also introduced to the Scratch software interface, an educational tool well-suited for teaching children programming. This initial experience went smoothly and generated considerable interest and strong motivation among the students.
At the Steve Sinnott Foundation, we know that planning for the future is one of the most important things you can do for the people and causes you care about. That’s why we’re delighted to offer our staff and volunteers the opportunity to write or update their will this Spring. Whether you’ve been meaning to get started for years, or you simply need to make a few updates, this is the perfect time to take that important step. Join Our Free Will Writing Webinar To help you get started, we’ve partnered with expert estate planners Octopus Legacy , who will be hosting a free webinar(s) covering everything you need to know about writing or updating your will. Staff & Volunteers 12pm, Thursday 5th March Online via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uvirWft7S12lJUby6oUtnQ#/registration Supporters 12pm, Tuesday 10th March Online via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xxJNZd6ZQYKMOs-2fNz0Gg#/registration During the session, you’ll learn: Why it’s important to have an up-to-date will What to consider when writing or updating your will The different types of will-writing services available How Lasting Powers of Attorney work and why they matter How to claim your free will this Spring This webinar is designed to make what can feel like a complex process simple, clear and manageable. Why Having a Will Matters Having an up-to-date will ensures your wishes are respected and your loved ones are protected. Without one, the law decides how your estate is distributed and that may not reflect what you would have wanted. A will gives you peace of mind. It allows you to: Provide clarity and security for your family Appoint guardians for children if needed Make specific gifts to individuals or causes Ensure your estate is handled efficiently Updating your will is just as important as writing one. Life changes marriages, children, property purchases, or changes in circumstances can all affect your wishes. Claim Your Free Will This Spring As part of this initiative, eligible staff and volunteers will have the opportunity to claim a free will-writing service. Full details will be shared during the webinar, including how to access this benefit. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. Writing or updating your will is one of the most responsible and caring decisions you can make for yourself and for those you care about. Register Now Spaces are available now, simply register using the link below: Staff & Volunteers - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uvirWft7S12lJUby6oUtnQ#/registration Supporters - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xxJNZd6ZQYKMOs-2fNz0Gg#/registration We hope you’ll join us on Thursday 5th March and take this positive step towards securing your future.
In my time as an assistant at The Steve Sinnott Foundation (SSF), one of my research tasks was looking into how the Foundation contributed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I really believe in the work of the Foundation and I have also been raising funds as I believe that every child must have the right to education. SSF is a UK-based educational charity focused on promoting quality education worldwide. It plays a supportive role in achieving the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 4: (Quality Education), but its work contributes to several others as well. Here's how the Foundation supports the SDGs: Goal 4 – Quality education (core focus) The Foundation's main mission is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. It supports teachers and educational initiatives in developing countries. It runs programmes like: The Education for All Campaign – advocating for universal access to education. Teacher empowerment projects – providing training and resources to educators in under-resourced countries. Girls' education programmes – encouraging and supporting girls to stay in school and complete their education. Goal 3 – Good health and well-being Through education, particularly health-related programmes, the Foundation contributes to raising awareness about hygiene, nutrition, and mental health. The Foundation has developed a range of webinars to promote health and wellbeing and these can be found on YouTube. Goal 5 – Gender equality The Foundation promotes girls' education, directly addressing barriers that prevent girls from accessing and completing school. It advocates for the rights of women and girls, especially in patriarchal or disadvantaged societies. Goal 8 – Decent work and economic growth By improving access to education and vocational training, the Foundation helps create employment opportunities. Educated individuals have better chances of securing decent work. Goal 10 – Reduced inequalities It supports marginalised groups, including children in rural or conflict-affected areas, contributing to reducing global inequalities in education. Goal 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions Promotes education as a force for peace and conflict resolution. Supports democratic participation and awareness through educational programmes that foster community engagement. Goal 17 – Partnerships for the goals Collaborates with NGOs, unions, schools, and governments to deliver and advocate for education projects. Builds international partnerships to achieve the SDGs through education. Summary While The Steve Sinnott Foundation's primary focus is on Goal 4, it contributes to many of the SDGs by empowering communities through education, particularly: Gender equality (Goal 5), Health (Goal 3), Economic growth (Goal 8), Reducing inequality (Goal 10), Peace (Goal 16), and Partnerships (Goal 17). The Foundation’s programmes also contribute to the achievement of other SDGs through the power of the provision of education and life-long learning; 1. No Poverty, 2. Zero Hunger, 13. Climate Action. We believe that all of the 17 SDGs are only achievable by ensuring that all children, wherever they are born, deserve the human right of quality education. Over 250 million children are still out of school and the global out-of-school population has reduced by only 1% in nearly ten years, according to the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2024. There is still much work to do in achieving equitable and quality Education for All.
