Refugee Education Council

The Refugee Education Council is a Government of Canada advisory body that works to include the voices of refugees in refugee-education programs.

Refugee Education Council
Formation2021
PurposeIncrease inclusion of refugees in government-funded educational programs
HeadquartersOttawa

It was founded in 2021 as part of wider attempts by the Government of Canada to include refugees in decision making. The creation of the group has been described by OpenCanada as "promising" and was welcomed by Right to Play.

In 2022, the group presented a manifesto to further increase inclusion.

Organization edit

The council was founded in 2021 as part of a wider package of efforts called Together for Learning.[1][2] The founding of the council was described by OpenCanada as "promising",[2] and Right to Play welcomed the launch.[3]

Council members include community leaders, parents, teachers, and youth advocates.[1][4] The group is housed by World Vision Canada and supported by the Canadian International Education Policy Working Group (network of organisations).[4]

The council exists to increase the participation of refugees in the design and delivery of educational programs.[5]

In March 2022, at the Government of Canada's Together for Learning summit the council presented its manifesto A Vision for the Education of Refugee and Displaced Learners calling for more inclusion of refugees beyond just the group of fifteen members.[6]

Membership edit

Refugee Education Council Members[7]
Name National affiliations(s)
Anojitha Sivaskaran[8] Sri Lanka
Istarlin Abdi South Sudan, Somalia
Bikienga Amdiatou Burkina Faso
Suleman Arshad Pakistan
Laura Barbosa Colombia, Canada
Malual Bol Kiir South Sudan, Canada
Nhial Deng Kenya, Ethiopia
Amelie Fabian Canada, Rwanda
Qais Ghasan Abdulrazzaq Jordan, Syria
Moriom Khatun Bangladesh
Christine Mwongera Kenya  
Nabaloum Pascaline Burkina Faso
Yvana Portillo Venezuela, Peru
Foni Joyce Vuni Kenya/South Sudan

References edit

  1. ^ a b International, Radio Canada (2021-03-03). "UNICEF warns schools closed for millions of world's children". RCI | English. Retrieved 2022-04-10.
  2. ^ a b Milner, James; Shuayb, Maha (2021-03-17). "Collaboration, not charity". Open Canada. Retrieved 2022-04-10.
  3. ^ "Right To Play welcomes the Government of Canada's Together for Learning campaign to mobilize support for refugee and displaced learners". righttoplay.com. Retrieved 2022-04-10.
  4. ^ a b Ridley-Padmore, Tiyahna (7 Feb 2022). "Refugee education needs refugee voices". World Vision.
  5. ^ "How can refugee participation enhance refugee education? Lessons from LERRN". carleton.ca. 8 Feb 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-10.
  6. ^ "A Youth Manifesto on Education for Refugee and Displaced Learners". World University Service of Canada. 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2022-04-10.
  7. ^ Canada, Global Affairs (2021-06-02). "Refugee Education Council". GAC. Retrieved 2022-04-10.
  8. ^ Daniel, Shannine (11 July 2021). "Lanka's two Diana Award winners spurred on to do more for peace". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2022-04-10.

External links edit