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Photo Gallery: Meet Five Educators Building Hope and Empowering Refugee Youth Across Latin America
In a world where refugee children often face numerous barriers to education, including lack of resources, missing documentation and overcrowding, teachers play a critical role in not only inspiring and empowering refugee students but also equipping them with the necessary tools they need to succeed.
For the more than 14.8 million school-aged refugee children around the world, school represents more than just a place of learning — it is a safe haven where educators can help them pursue their dreams, form lifelong friendships and gain the education they need to build bright futures.
On this World Teacher Day, learn about five extraordinary educators from across Central and Latin America who are creating inclusive and safe spaces for their students to learn, thrive and achieve their dreams.
German
"As a Salvadoran child seeking asylum, sitting in a room in a school, I never dreamed I would be a school principal. For me, it is a great personal achievement, but also to be able to show the Belizean community that we (refugees) can contribute to the development of the country."
In the late 1970s, German and his family sought asylum in Belize. Nearly five decades later, he is still in Belize and serving his community in a profound way. German is the principal at Maskall Primary School, where he oversees 187 students from 1st to 6th grade and 31 students in the pre-school, Fifty percent of the students are refugees or asylum-seekers, mainly originating from German’s own home country of El Salvador.
Juan Carlos
© UNHCR/Santiago Escobar-Jarami
Twenty-six-year-old, Juan Carlos, is the visionary behind "Warriors Zulu Nation Honduras," an organization that is dedicated to empowering youth through the arts. With a deep passion for his community in San Pedro Sula, Juan actively engages with young individuals, fostering their growth and development. He is also a fervent education advocate for all young people in his community, recognizing the numerous challenges they face.
Mario
“We aspire to provide quality education while acknowledging and celebrating the diversity within our district's educational system. This includes catering to the needs of migrant, refugee, and returning populations, as well as fostering a supportive environment that ensures access and quality education."
For over 25 years, Mario Lombana has devoted his life to the education sector. He actively promotes positive leadership among fellow teachers, encouraging them to make a significant impact on the educational community and embrace the diversity and differences within the student population, many of whom are refugees and asylum seekers who have found refuge in Colombia.
Delia
© UNHCR/Santiago Escobar-Jarami
As a dedicated community leader in the Alfonso Lacayo community in Honduras, Delia devotes herself to serving her community. Recognizing the importance of nurturing the younger generation, she places a particular emphasis on the community center as a safe haven for children and youth to thrive and develop. Through her tireless efforts, she ensures that this vital space provides a nurturing environment where young individuals can grow, learn and explore their full potential.
Astrid
"Together, they have nurtured socio-emotional development in students, cultivating leadership qualities, empathy, assertiveness in conflict resolution, and fostering respect for others."
Astrid has spent the past seven years of her 18-year career teaching English at Tierra Bomba School. During this time, she has taught over 300 students, many of whom are Venezuelan refugees. She is deeply committed to facilitating their integration, promoting children's rights and implementing innovative teaching methods.
Thanks to the UNHCR's PPN program (Pedagogy and Protection for Refugee and Migrant Children with a Mixed Approach), Astrid and her colleagues (pictured above) have organized various activities aimed at promoting social integration.
How you can help…
By becoming a USA for UNHCR monthly donor, you can ensure that classrooms around the world serving refugee, internally displaced, and stateless children are equipped with the necessary tools and resources they need to learn, grow and thrive. This support enables them to not only have hope for a brighter future but can help them achieve their full potential.
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