Early Years Education for Congolese Refugee Children

Uganda is host to the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world. Over 440,000 of the 2.2 million in the country have fled conflict and human rights abuses in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Thousands of Congolese refugee children living in Kyaka II refugee settlement are unable to access early education at the most crucial time of their development.

With buildings unable to accommodate the need, Children on the Edge are training refugee teachers and supporting local parents to provide sustainable early years education through small group lessons, close to children’s homes.

These small group lessons are part of our award winning ‘Cluster Learning Approach’, which is a sustainable, cost effective early education model that removes barriers of finance, language, culture, ethnicity, disability and location.

Lessons are arranged in small groups, wherever the children are, in people's homes and compounds, shaded areas around local buildings, and under trees.

With trained refugee early years teachers, strong parental and community ownership and investment in small business and savings groups, this model is reducing dependency and ensuring early years learning is permanently accessible for all children.

Learn more about Cluster Learning

OUR IMPACT

77%

Of early learning needs met in target areas (up from 13% in 2019)

500+

Learners transitioned to primary school last year, outperforming many older children.

191

Trained refugee teachers

Meet Nyota

Nyota's family lives in a very remote area of Kyaka II refugee settlement. For years there was no early years provision and the closest preschools were way too far for a small child to walk to.

When Nyota was six, a new cluster learning group started in her village. Her parents were thrilled she would finally have the chance to learn and enrolled her straight away. The teachers helped her catch up and, after just three terms Nyota sat and passed her primary school entrance exams.

Nyota loves school, especially literacy and maths, although she told us she enjoyed her cluster group even more! She is working hard so that she can become a teacher and teach her own cluster group in the future.

Your donation can help over 5,000 children like Nyota to access vital early learning at the most important stage of their development.

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Cluster Learning involves the whole community

Make a difference. Donate Today.

£9

Could provide Safeguarding Training for a refugee teacher.

£22

Could pay for a 'Superteacher' salary for a week.

£125

Can help educate a child in a safe space for a whole year.

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