Maker elaborated that without her access to higher education, she would not have been able to inspire hope among her students in the Kakuma camp. This seed of hope empowers refugees to dare to dream.
Sudan’s escalating conflicts have led to a significant refugee crisis, displacing millions of people. Education, which is vital for sustainable futures, is a crucial but strained resource. Many Sudanese refugee children are deprived of this fundamental right, preventing them from realizing their potential.
Innovative solutions, partnerships, and international support can transform this bleak scenario to provide brighter prospects for these resilient refugees. The plight and potential of Sudanese refugees serve as a powerful testament to the urgent need for targeted interventions in improving educational accessibility and equality.
Mary Maker, a survivor of conflict in South Sudan, underscored why higher education is the key to unlocking the dreams of displaced individuals and minorities.
“Higher education creates a ripple effect on the community by allowing people to get jobs that lead to more job opportunities for other people,” the recently appointed Goodwill Ambassador of the UNHCR shared.
Maker elaborated that without her access to higher education, she would not have been able to inspire hope among her students in the Kakuma camp. This seed of hope empowers refugees to dare to dream.
“Sometimes it means us knocking on doors, asking to get funded,” she said, citing that not all universities offer full funding.
“But if all of them (the universities) make a pledge, one refugee a year to sponsor, what can that create? How many more can start their own organization and help their communities,” she added.
Maker also pointed out that becoming displaced or a minority knows no race or boundaries— it can happen to anyone at any time.
When asked about the unique challenges faced by refugees, she identified several factors but highlighted the lack of infrastructure, books, teachers, and the impact of climate change.
Maker shared that in the Kakuma refugee camp, nearly 96 percent of the population is enrolled in primary schools. However, only 6 percent of those enrolled manage to transition to high school, and of that 6 percent, only 1 percent make it to college. This is primarily due to the limited availability of school space, she said.
Kakuma currently has 21 primary schools and only 6 secondary schools, creating a bottleneck for students. Even if they possess the desire to pursue their education, there simply isn’t enough space to accommodate them, she explained.
Maker added that the lack of learning spaces disproportionately affects female refugee students. Within classes consisting of 90-120 students, there is a significant disparity between the number of men and women. Only around 10 of these students are women, which can be highly daunting.
She also noted that many female students are also mothers who must care for and breastfeed their children back home, which is often miles away from the school. Consequently, their available study time becomes severely limited.
Another significant issue is the inadequate supply of textbooks relative to the number of students. In a given grade level, only seven books are available to be shared among over 100 students.
“Even if students can take home the textbooks, there’s no electricity in their homes so they can’t do their homeworks,” Maker said.
“Some will have lamps given to them, but instead of using the lamps for studying, their family will use them when cooking their food,” she added.
Maker also stressed climate change as a hindrance to students’ access to education. Despite the sunny weather, the Kakuma refugee camp often experiences flooding.
Rainwater from nearby towns and cities accumulates within and around the camp, creating literal barriers that prevent students from reaching the school premises.
Looking back at her experience, refugee students who receive assistance in accessing higher education never miss an opportunity to give back to their community. She believes this is what makes them a valuable asset.
