The way forward: Investment for youth empowerment, education emphasised
UNHCR chief says 51% of globally displaced people are under 18
UNHCR chief says 51% of globally displaced people are under 18. PHOTO: REUTERS
PESHAWAR:
The international community has been urged to invest in youth empowerment and education by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
According to a press release issued on Thursday, the UNHCR chief was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a Government Girls Primary School in Daad Behsud, Nowshera.
He said current emergencies increased global concern over additional risks faced by children who have been deprived of educational opportunities.
The high commissioner said countries hosting refugees needed additional support for education.
“Emphasis on education [has] become vital at a time when children below the age of 18 constitute 51% of the total 65.3 million globally displaced people,” the press release quoted him as saying.
According to the press statement, the UN refugee agency, through German funding, rehabilitated the existing structure of the school by constructing eight additional classrooms, toilets and overhauling the entire building. It also provided sports equipment and aid kits.
Writing on the wall
Grandi and students of the government school wrote messages on one of the walls to promote education. The objective of the UN wall campaign is for the Pakistani youth to disseminate key values.
Addressing a gathering of students, teachers and their parents, the UNHCR chief said investment in Pakistani and Afghan youth will be tantamount to putting in resources in resilience, empowerment, stability and the future of both countries.
UNHCR official opens women training centre
Grandi said a “living example” is Aqeela Asifi, who won the 2015 Nansen Refugee Award. She is an Afghan teacher who dedicated her life to the education of refugee girls. Asifi was also present at the ceremony herself.
The high commissioner lauded the provincial government for allowing access to refugee children at public schools.
Matter of priorities
“Education for refugees remains widely under-supported and underfunded despite this international commitment,” the press release quoted him as saying. “The lack of investment in refugee education results in continued low enrolment rates, gender disparity and low quality of education.”
The high commissioner added efforts to provide education options for Afghan refugees by host governments, NGOs, UN agencies, public schools and civil society had proved beneficial, particularly for Afghan refugee girls.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees Imran Zeb said education is vital to improve the future of the neighbouring country and enabling its sustainable economic development as well as peace building.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2016.
The international community has been urged to invest in youth empowerment and education by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
According to a press release issued on Thursday, the UNHCR chief was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a Government Girls Primary School in Daad Behsud, Nowshera.
He said current emergencies increased global concern over additional risks faced by children who have been deprived of educational opportunities.
The high commissioner said countries hosting refugees needed additional support for education.
“Emphasis on education [has] become vital at a time when children below the age of 18 constitute 51% of the total 65.3 million globally displaced people,” the press release quoted him as saying.
According to the press statement, the UN refugee agency, through German funding, rehabilitated the existing structure of the school by constructing eight additional classrooms, toilets and overhauling the entire building. It also provided sports equipment and aid kits.
Writing on the wall
Grandi and students of the government school wrote messages on one of the walls to promote education. The objective of the UN wall campaign is for the Pakistani youth to disseminate key values.
Addressing a gathering of students, teachers and their parents, the UNHCR chief said investment in Pakistani and Afghan youth will be tantamount to putting in resources in resilience, empowerment, stability and the future of both countries.
UNHCR official opens women training centre
Grandi said a “living example” is Aqeela Asifi, who won the 2015 Nansen Refugee Award. She is an Afghan teacher who dedicated her life to the education of refugee girls. Asifi was also present at the ceremony herself.
The high commissioner lauded the provincial government for allowing access to refugee children at public schools.
Matter of priorities
“Education for refugees remains widely under-supported and underfunded despite this international commitment,” the press release quoted him as saying. “The lack of investment in refugee education results in continued low enrolment rates, gender disparity and low quality of education.”
The high commissioner added efforts to provide education options for Afghan refugees by host governments, NGOs, UN agencies, public schools and civil society had proved beneficial, particularly for Afghan refugee girls.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees Imran Zeb said education is vital to improve the future of the neighbouring country and enabling its sustainable economic development as well as peace building.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2016.