Obote Milton
Fading Futures of children and youth
In Westnile a region hosting many refuges, teenagers cling to the hope of completing their studies and archiving their career of having a bright future and serving humanity, but each day that hope is fading and loosing it’s true definition. Once bright and top students in early school years, they now struggles in Refugee schools trying to make their dreams a reality of which the schools are overwhelmed with hundreds of learners crammed in one classroom . With the few teachers who are overwhelmed and limited in number compared to the ideal learner – teacher ratio which was 55:1 by 2021/2022, the teachers always try their best with the limited resources but the reality is harsh to comprehend. There are no enough text books, limited desks, learners learning in shifts due to limited classrooms.
Many teenagers have dropped out of school, such dropouts engage into manual work toiling under the scorching sun in the refugee camps to earn a meager wage that hardly is ultimate enough to offer help to the family. Others have resorted to do petty businesses in the market and trading centres like carrying loads as brokers, selling minor items inorder to find survival and put bread on the table. School once a place of dreams and where possibilities are actualized now feels like a luxury they can’t afford in anyway .
Majority of the teenage girls have faced the adverse challenge brought about by this tragic situation . Young girls who are yet teenagers supposed to be at school are forced to be married with the believe that “at least she will have food and security and the family will get bride wealth.” This is a reality in the community where the future of young brilliant girls, elites to be in next decade- there dreams fade of faster than the dry season smoke of a wild fire, there future robbed from them by situations beyond their ability and control. Some become mothers even yet they haven’t understood what it clearly means to be a child; “a child rearing a child”. Most never return to school again .
As one walks to class each morning, it is noticable more and more desks get empty. The school compound once filled with with learners full of potential, a bright future from their enthusiasm about learning. Laughter and excitement is fading off because learners get more uncertain of the future as whether they won’t fall as victims of circumstance. The other learners sit in classroom with empty stomachs especially those in upper class, their minds destructed with weight of survival. The amazing dream of education and bright future is slipping away not because they lack the will to learn but life has made it nearly impossible
With challenges of education, child labor and early and teenage marriages affecting Children and youth, it makes one wonder – will the future be lost to the toil for survival.
Written by;
Obote Milton
BSW@UCU Arua Campus
Youth Inclusion Network
0763062362, 0778122604
This post was created with our nice and easy submission form. Create your post!
