Refugees take parent power to next level

As the new school year begins, Parents’ Associations in the Sudanese refugee camps of Eastern Chad are taking greater control of their children’s education.

It is seven years since the camps were set up as more than 250,000 Sudanese fled across the border from the genocide in Darfur, during which time the camp communities have become increasingly self supporting.

In a shift from relying on aid, Cord is equipping the Sudanese to not only manage the 23 primary and 36 pre-schools across four camps, but also to support them financially.

Now Cord aims to widen opportunities for the Parents’ Associations (APEs) to generate income for their schools. In Bredjing camp the new community owned peanut oil press and shelter will bring in money for schools - has been built entirely at the parents’ initiative.

After erecting a temporary shelter to protect the equipment and produce from the dust and sun, they appointed and paid for a security guard, negotiated access to a plot of land and dug a well to have water nearby for the main construction.

Together the Parents’Associations produced 11,200 hand made bricks, and provided sand, stone and clay for the builders.

"We are very happy to have participated in the shelter construction because the oil press machines will generate income,” said Issakha Abdarahamane Idriss, Chairman of Abubakar School APE.

"We can use the money to purchase school supplies and repair classrooms," he added. Next on the agenda? Repairing fences around all the camp schools and constructing a teacher’s office in Abubakar School.