"I want to be like that boy"

At the age of 11, Ajoub's father was killed by the Janjaweed militia during a raid on her village. There was no school in her village growing up in west Darfur, so she never had the opportunity to get an education. One day a neighborhood boy showed her something that changed her life... For three years in the refugee camp in eastern Chad, Ajoub spent her days farming and helping her mother care for her five siblings. One day a neighborhood boy showed her something that changed her life: He wrote his own name.

"I wanted to be just like this boy and be able to write my own name" says Ajoub, "So, I went to my mother and said I want to be like that boy, and asked her if I could go school too!"

Her mother agreed but given that Ajoub was 15 now and illiterate, it wasn't possible for her to enter primary school. Through neighbors the mother found out about the RET program, designated for youth between the ages of 15-25. Shortly thereafter, Ajoub was enrolled.

NRC has been the implementing partner for the Foundation of Refugee Education Trust (RET) in Eastern Chad for their program Protecting Displaced Youth. In 2005, RET approached NRC in the interest to adopt the NRC Youth Pack Program, a successful education program encompassing literacy, numeracy, life skills, and vocational training. RET modified the program and started the literacy, numeracy, and life skills components in four refugee camps and the surrounding Chadian villages.

Violent conflict The situation in Eastern Chad has deteriorated significantly in the past two years. With 235,000 Sudanese refugees from Darfur and 180,000 displaced Chadians, the region is struggling to cope with the influx of population in an already strained environment. The dynamics of Chad make the country a fascinating place: 200 different ethnic groups, 120 languages, the Sahel in the north, fertile lowlands in the south, and borders with six countries. Unfortunately, the eastern border is shared with Sudan and the conflict that started in 2003 in Darfur is not the only one impacting Chad. The fighting in Central Africa Republic and the internal civil conflict also play a large role in the ongoing instability. Various rebel factions have been fighting the Chadian government for 15 years and have increased rebel activity in the past year. This has severely hampered humanitarian workers' ability to carry out their activities.

Peer education Nevertheless, the RET/NRC Life skills program has continued and is thriving; from 748 enrolled students in 2006 to 3,315 students in August 2007. NRC Education Managers trained the RET local staff and the teachers in 2006 and supervised the RET staff training the teachers in 2007. Since there is a lack of certified teachers in the camps and villages, the program has taken educated youth and trained them to become teachers in teaching methodology, classroom management, literacy, numeracy, and all the life skills units. This peer education has worked successfully because the students and teachers are able to relate to each other well and students see a role model close to their age. The three components are critical to the holistic development of the student. Like for Ajoub, writing their own name or the names of their children is something that brings them immense pride. Learning numeracy helps them at the market and keeps women from being cheated like before, since they could not count. Students express their overwhelming interest in the life skills portion, which is composed of reproductive health, sanitation, prevention of illnesses of children, HIV/AIDS, and other important subjects. overwhelming interest in the life skills portion, which is composed of reproductive health, sanitation, prevention of illnesses of children, HIV/AIDS, and other important subjects. overwhelming interest in the life skills portion, which is composed of reproductive health, sanitation, prevention of illnesses of children, HIV/AIDS, and other important subjects. overwhelming interest in the life skills portion, which is composed of reproductive health, sanitation, prevention of illnesses of children, HIV/AIDS, and other important subjects.

Women The most notable impact is seen in the women. Women, especially the young mothers, show tremendous motivation and inspiration. Out of 3,315 students, 2,231 are women who struggle to attend class despite the overabundance of chores in the home and for the family. Young mothers are given a second chance to become educated through the program because the students themselves decide what time classes should be held and are allowed to bring their infants. Whereas before, women may have not been allowed to go to school, now they are encouraged by the community to stay in school. Ajoub said that when her neighbors realized she stopped attending they started to intervene and provide soap and clothes for her to continue.

There is still much to be done to ensure that girls and women go to school but having female teachers makes a big difference. Nadjwa, a dynamic female teacher in one camp, explains: "I want to be a role model to younger women to get them educated and involved in the community. Educating women is more important since they take care of children and the house."

Trained as a midwife in Sudan, Nadjwa was bombarded with questions when she gave a session on reproductive health. Dispelling myths, such as women decide the sex of babies or men who have relations with their wives during the menstrual cycle will be infected with leprosy, is her first objective. The basic facts about health and sanitation that these students learn will save lives in these camps.

This program targeted specifically towards youth is important in a refugee camp. Not only is education a means to advance oneself personally and improve one's economic situation; it is also a means of protection. Youth in many of the refugee camps are left without any opportunities, since they are unskilled, uneducated, and feel too old to join primary school. This lack of opportunity makes them vulnerable to rebel recruitment and increases their chances of being involved in risky activities.

Nadjwa and Ajoub represent the women in the Sudanese refugee camps that benefit from the NRC/RET program. With only 5% of displaced Chadians in the East having ever gone to school, the challenges continue to be overwhelming. While writing your name may be something we take for granted every day we sign something, it is a symbol to Ajoub that her life is forever changed and her future is brighter.

NRC in Chad The Norwegian Refugee Council has had a presence in Eastern Chad since 2005 by partnering with the RET program. With the continuing needs of the Sudanese refugees and the increase of displaced Chadians, NRC sent a team to carry out an assessment mission to see if future intervention related to NRC's core activities is needed. NRC is currently considering starting up programs in Chad but much of this will depend on security and funding.