UNICEF and EU Safe school year in Maroua-Cameroon

By Elias Ntungwe Ngalame

MAROUA-Cameroon. Over 31.000 of refugee and terrorism triggered diplaced children in the Far North region of Cameroon have been rescued from a forfeited school year thanks to a fresh flow of cash from the European Union (EU). The children among whom are 15.000 girls who had lost hope of attending school are now sure of going to class.

A Press release from UNICEF of the 10 August 2015 says the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), which is helping the children forced to flee from Boko Haram  attacks and killings in Nigeria  in the social, health and habitation is now poised to ensure the education of the depraved refugees. It says the EU is supporting its effort with more than 460 million francs.

School Children in Cameroon.

The children will not only benefit from the gesture but their parents too will be relieved of the economic burden. They include 14,000 Nigerian children at the Minawao refugee camp and 17,000 young Cameroonians in 25 schools.

UNICEF says it will create safe learning spaces, run accelerated education programmes at the Minwao refugee camp and train 253 teachers in and out of the camp to meet pupils’ educational and psychological needs.

The project includes promoting peace and social cohesion and preventing discrimination and stigmatisation.

The EU funding comes within the framework of the EU Children of Peace initiative which supports the education of children affected by conflicts and disasters.