(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Students who attended the forum said they are motivated to actively pursue humanitarian work along with their school curriculum after attending the forum.
Sharjah: Students from 100 high schools and universities in Sharjah gathered and discussed various challenges and operational difficulties international relief agencies face while working with refugees within the Mena region at the Youth Forum organised as part of the ongoing Investing in the Future Conference.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in collaboration with The Big Heart opened the ‘Investing in the Future Mena’- Youth Forum on Wednesday in Sharjah. The workshops were presented by delegates from UNHCR Mercy Corps and the Sharjah Tatweer Forum. Students who attended the forum said they are motivated to actively pursue humanitarian work along with their school curriculum after attending the forum.
The opening session ‘Education in Emergencies’ was moderated by Dr Yusef Daradhek UNHCR Protection Officer; Audrey Nirrengarten Education Officer UNHCR; and Sahir Mohyudin Protection Officer UNHCR. “We enjoy working with children on such projects because it raises awareness among local children and it is also a very rewarding experience” said Nirrengarten.
The discussions ranged across several topics including the challenges faced by aid workers in refugee camps the future of children in refugee camps if children are guaranteed a job after working in camps state of distance education programmes and the curricula in refugee camps across Lebanon and Jordan. Students also spoke about the state of girls’ education in Mena refugee camps.
A parallel discussion on ‘What is Humanitarian Work’ was also conducted by UNHCR officials. The session briefed students on the long-term benefits of humanitarian work. “A good news in refugee camps come by very rarely” said Nirrengarten. “What keeps most children going to refugee camps is a goal a desire and a glimmer of hope.”
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