Rosany’s education is at a critical point
The COVID-19 crisis is threatening the education of the world’s poorest girls. Many girls like 11-year-old Rosany (pictured above) are at a critical point in their education and face a real risk of never finishing school.
By ChildFund Australia
Almost every government in the world shut schools last year to contain the spread of coronavirus. In poor countries and hard-to-reach communities. where schools were already under-resourced and online learning was impossible, these closures have had a terrible impact.
On top of difficulties accessing education, the world’s poorest girls faced the challenge of finding enough time for independent learning at home. This is because they were expected to take on more unpaid work such as household chores and looking after younger siblings while they were not in school.
Too many girls are deprived their right to education
When a girl leaves school early it can be devastating
and make it more difficult to break the cycle of poverty
The impact of school closures
In Cambodia, schools were closed for almost the entire year.
This was devastating for girls like Rosany. She lives in a remote village and does not have access to the internet or television, which means she was unable to follow remote learning lessons.
A community classroom was set up under a tree in her village, but she found those lessons insufficient and is worried she has fallen behind.
There’s a very real risk that she will never return to school.
The COVID-19 crisis has left disadvantaged children
with limited ways to continue their education
Students like Rosany are at risk of falling behind and leaving school early
Eleven-year-old Rosany belongs to the Cham ethnic minority group in Cambodia and her parents rely on odd jobs for income. When the COVID-19 pandemic threatened Rosany’s community, her father struggled to find work and her mother had to work longer hours selling corn. This put even more pressure on the family.
Rosany is a promising student. She wants to be a teacher and, before the pandemic, she was doing well in school. But, like all her older siblings, she faces the risk of never finishing her education.
Girls from low-income families, who live in remote or rural locations, or who are of an ethnic minority group, are already vulnerable to dropping out of school. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families is increasing this risk, especially for girls like Rosany who face multiple barriers to education.
Alisae is only 13, but may never return to school
Rosany’s 13-year-old sister, Alisae, stopped going to school last year. She had been helping to look after her one-year-old sibling while her parents, whose jobs had been impacted by the pandemic, looked for work.
Alisae tried to juggle school with her responsibilities at home, but found it too difficult. She stopped attending classes and does not think she will return. She desperately wants to help Rosany avoid the same fate.
“I miss going to school,” said Alisae. “I especially miss playing with my friends. I don’t want my younger sister to drop out of school.
“I want her to study higher than me.”
During the pandemic, Alisae took on extra responsibilities at home
She struggled to keep up with her studies
At 13, Alisae doubts she will return to school
Helping girls stay in school during the pandemic
In order to encourage girls like Rosany to return to school. It is important that they know they are returning to a safe learning environment; a place where they feel comfortable.
ChildFund’s team in Cambodia is working with Cambodia’s provincial and national governments, local partners, girls, women, educators and community leaders to improve teaching standards and ensure schools meet the needs of their students.
Upgraded toilets provide a safe, clean space for girls
Child-friendly teaching and learning resources keep students engaged
Back-to-school campaigns to ensure the entire community understands the importance of girls’ education
Workshops with parents, community members and local leaders ensure everyone understands the importance of girls’ education and works together to get girls back to school.
Our team in Cambodia will also work in partnership with communities to run Back to School campaigns where we will identify the most vulnerable girls, including girls who have not returned to school, so that we can help them return to the classroom.
These measures will encourage girls to return to school while helping to build a strong and supportive community around them to ensure they can stay on track through these challenges.
The COVID-19 crisis is threatening the education of the world’s poorest girls. Your gift today could help girls stay in school and reach their potential.
Please Donate
Help girls like Rosany stay in school during this pandemic
The rapid advance in digital technology is changing childhoods around the globe, with research showing that around one in three internet users is under the age of 18.
Last week the United Nations Children’s Committee recognised that the rights of young people apply online as well as offline. This is a welcome and important development in child rights.
Online connectivity can have many benefits for young people. It brings access to information and knowledge. It offers an environment in which to build peer connections and social networks, at home and around the world.
For children seeking support, the online world can provide guidance, and advice. And, as we have witnessed during the pandemic, online education resources can provide a valuable alternative learning platform when face-to-face classes are unavailable.
When accompanied by low levels of media literacy, however, access to the worldwide web can also present new threats to children’s safety. Without the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the digital world, young people’s exposure to potential abuse and exploitation increases.
The digital generation
In Vietnam, internet penetration is now at 70%, with almost 70 million people online. This includes 65 million social media users. It is estimated that in the country, more than one-third of Facebook accounts belong to young people, aged between 15 and 24.
In response to this increased connectivity, in 2017 ChildFund Vietnam launched Swipe Safe, an innovative online safety program which has now helped more than 12,000 children safely navigate the world wide web more safely.
This project will enter its second phase in Vietnam, and is currently being implemented in the Solomon Islands, Cambodia, and Myanmar with plans to expand this initiative in the Pacific.
Online fears and concerns
Recently, ChildFund Australia, Plan International Australia and the Young & Resilient Research Centre of Western Sydney University launched a new study – Online Safety in the Pacific – in order to fill the research gap and map the challenges and opportunities for children in the Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Papua New Guinea.
Among the children surveyed, 77% said the risk of accessing inappropriate content, such as horror movies and pornography, was their greatest fear, followed by cyber-bullying (38%).
Parents and carers also identified a lack of control over what children were accessing as their greatest concern.
Safely navigating the worldwide web
Swipe Safe training workshops assists young people to understand the risks of using the internet, and how they can better protect themselves.
The program aims to empower young people to make the most of the digital world and provides valuable information about online safety to parents and teachers.
ChildFund also works with internet cafes to build safer environments and works closely with schools to develop and promote online safety policies and guidelines.
Fifteen-year-old Ngoc created her Facebook account when she was in Grade 6. She found that on Facebook she was able to make many new “friends” from around the world.
The number of people she connected with reached the thousands. “I did not know most of the people on my friend list in real life,” Ngoc says.
Ngoc shared a lot of information on her Facebook page, and the time spent on social media began affecting her schoolwork. She also started to have some concerns about her online interactions.
Ngoc explains: “If we did not accept an invitation to go out from friends on Facebook, we received threats and other bad words,” Ngoc says. “We felt frightened.”
Taking protective measures
A recent survey of Swipe Safe participants in Vietnam found that, after completing the program, 100% of young people said that they knew at least one method to protect themselves when online.
In addition, 85% can identify where to go for assistance if they are experiencing any difficulties when interacting online.
CEO of ChildFund Australia Margaret Sheehan says: “The opportunities that online connectivity provides is paramount for children and young people across the Asia-Pacific.
“However, we must be vigilant in taking adequate measures to keep them safe. A single response will not combat the far-reaching risks and impacts of the online world.
“A whole of community approach, which empowers children and their families to safely navigate the online world is crucial.”
