Five reasons to celebrate on International Day of Education
We know that the past year was a difficult one.
Here at Windle International, the international secretariat for our family of Windle members across eastern Africa and beyond, we’ve been inspired by the dedication and commitment that people like you, our supporters, have shown to furthering the vital cause of education for peace and development. We know that access to good quality education and training for people living in refugee camps and settlements - and the communities that host them - and everyone who has been affected in some way by conflict or marginalisation, is something that’s important to you.
That’s why, to mark International Day of Education today, we wanted to share with you five reasons to celebrate:
After nearly two years of closures, Uganda reopened its schools at the beginning of January, sending millions of students back to their classrooms. For the 242,000 learners under the care of Windle International Uganda’s schools and programmes, the return to face-to-face teaching is most welcome.
Earlier this month, Windle International Kenya awarded fifteen scholarships to women so that they could undertake vocational training. These women were from both Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps in Kenya, as well as the local communities that host these camps.
In October, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees confirmed 150 new undergraduate scholarships for refugees in the Sudan that will be managed by Windle Trust International. The applications for the scholarship come from refugees across the Sudan, with large numbers of applicants being refugees from Syria, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Chad, Central African Republic and Yemen.
4. The first student graduated in Somalia from the Windle-managed DAFI programme
In November, Muna became the first student to graduate from WISOM’s DAFI programme with a medical degree from East Africa University. In 2021, Windle International Somalia started implementing UNHCR's DAFI Tertiary Scholarship Programme.
5. Extra support for primary school teachers in South Sudan
Windle Trust International has received funding to provide Primary Teacher Training scholarships for South Sudanese nationals and registered refugees in South Sudan. Literacy levels in South Sudan are around 27%, and there is a large gender imbalance in school enrolment.