The story of 500 backpacks: Returning to school after fleeing the conflict in Ukraine
One month on from the launch of their urgent Ukraine appeal, Plan International has supplied 500 backpacks to help children fleeing conflict in Ukraine return to school with the generous donations from the Irish public. The kits, which contain essential supplies such as pens, notebooks, coloured pencils and hygiene materials, will help refugee children now living in Moldova to carry on with their studies as they enrol in local schools.
The backpacks were donated at the request of the City Hall of Chisinau, Moldova's capital city, where 397 new pupils from Ukraine have already enrolled in local secondary schools and 47 in municipal kindergartens – figures which are likely to grow as the conflict continues.
Emilia Sorrentino, Education in Emergencies Specialist at Plan International Ireland, who is on the ground in Moldova, said: "The conflict in Ukraine has disrupted the education of a whole generation of children. Getting pupils back into school is critical to provide a sense of normality and safety as they start to rebuild their lives in a new country. Girls who are in school are also less likely to be exposed to dangers such as sexual exploitation, trafficking and domestic labour”.
HOW YOU ARE HELPING THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE
Emilia, who has been on the ground for some time now, continued, "Children and youth who have fled conflict have often witnessed unimaginable destruction, with little idea of when they will see family, friends and their homes again. They face considerable risks to their personal health, safety and psychosocial wellbeing. Going to school has significant emotional and psychological benefits.
"Education provides a safe environment where children and young people can continue to develop knowledge and skills, socialise with others and access other critical support services such as school meals and healthcare."
Plan International is a development and humanitarian organisation that works to end child poverty and promote equality for girls across 77 countries.
The backpacks were donated at an event at Chisinau City Hall earlier this week, which was attended by refugee children and their mothers. All of the supplies, which include hygiene promotion materials to help prevent the spread of Covid19, were purchased from local suppliers.
As the number of refugee children registering in local schools grows by the day, Plan International is working with authorities and organisations in Poland, Romania and Moldova to help pupils to integrate into local education and carry on with their studies.
School supplies are urgently needed so that Ukranian children, many of whom have fled their homes with little more than they can carry, are able to participate fully in classes. According to UN figures, prior to the conflict there were there are 6.84 million children of school age in Ukraine, nearly all of whom will now have had their education disrupted.
Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science figures state that as of March 13, 379 education institutions have been damaged or destroyed by fighting. Of the 500 backpacks donated, 200 contain supplies for primary school pupils, 200 for secondary school pupils and 100 for high school students. The number of people forced to flee the conflict in Ukraine is expected to rise to between 4 and 5 million if the conflict and indiscriminate attacks do not stop immediately.
If you would like to support the Plan International Ukrainian appeal go to Plan.ie to donate! Help us save their childhoods.