'Where are the kids?' I think as I enter the derelict apartment. After traipsing down a street littered with garbage, and climbing a flight of crumbling stairs, I expected the room to be bursting with excited children, anxious for a day of fun and learning.
Instead, I am met by the blank stares of six young refugee children. This must be what they mean when they say 'African Time.' I resign myself to throwing out the schedule and adopting the 'flexible' mindset needed in North Africa.
It was the first day of our week-long Day Camp Programme. Our goal is to help refugee children learn to read, write, and do maths in Arabic and English, to prepare them to start school in six months. By our fourth day, there are 35 children attending the Day Camp all eager to learn.
I ask Faid*, one of the adult coordinators, about the children’s circumstances. He tells me that the children either cannot afford the school fees, or are so far behind in their education that they cannot pass the evaluation test to enter. (Both reasons are a result of having to flee their country.)
Faid points to Rebecca, an 11-year-old girl, with shocking red highlights in her black braided hair.
“Rebecca is ready for school,” he says. “She knows her alphabet in English and Arabic, and is a quick learner. But she has not been able to enter school because her parents are living under the poverty line and are daily struggling to feed the family.
We sing a song and play a few games while we wait for more children to arrive. Faid tells me that since the children cannot attend school, they have no schedule; no concept of arriving 'on time'.
Eventually, with all children present, we decide to start. It’s like the old days with all the grades in one room - ages five to 14! I’m thankful that my teaching partner speaks Arabic, as we learn to write our names, practice counting to 100 in Arabic, colour pictures, and write the first few letters of the English alphabet. I notice that Rebecca often has the correct answer right away, can help the younger students, and even takes the initiative to sweep the floor after lunch!
The children are eager to learn, enjoy participating, and look out for the younger ones. In spite of my language barrier, I can tell they are enjoying the Day Camp (it sure beats sitting around home all day, or worse, doing chores!)
Ahmad* wants to be a doctor; Madeline* wants to be a teacher; and Abdel* wants to be an engineer. Perhaps this Day Camp will bring them one step closer towards their dreams.
Pray:
- For wisdom in teaching these refugee children.
- For qualified teachers to continue classes after the day camp.
- For every child in the camp to be able to attend school full-time in six months.
Give:
Consider a monthly donation or a one-time gift towards school fees for a child like Rebecca.
Act:
Ask God if there is something He would like you to do, at home or abroad, to encourage the education of those who cannot afford it or lack the opportunity to enjoy it.
Send a message to any teacher you know to thank them for their hard work - at school, Sunday school, church, work, etc.
*Names changed.