Emergency response for children and host communities in Vakaga Prefecture

The emergency education response project, led by Triangle Génération Humanitaire (TGH) in partnership with UNICEF, operates in the Vakaga Prefecture of the Central African Republic, a region severely impacted by political, economic, and security crises.

This initiative aims to address the urgent educational needs of Central African children and Sudanese refugees within a context marked by increasing insecurity and a significant influx of refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan. Vakaga, particularly the sub-prefectures of Birao, Ouandja, and Ouanda-Djallé, represents one of the most vulnerable areas in the country, with the lowest school enrollment rate in the Central African Republic, where only 62% of children are enrolled in school.

The primary goal of the project is to ensure access to inclusive, equitable, and quality education for 2800 children aged 3 to 17 years, including 1400 girls, by creating a safe and protective learning environment. To achieve this goal, several key activities will be undertaken. Firstly, TGH will conduct technical assessments and needs analyses in seven schools within the area to identify the infrastructures requiring urgent renovations. Following these assessments, minor renovations will be carried out, including the repair of school buildings, the construction and renovation of sanitation facilities, and improvements to roofing to withstand extreme weather conditions.

The project also includes equipping classrooms with appropriate school furniture, such as desks and blackboards, as well as distributing school kits and hygiene items for adolescent girls. This distribution is crucial to encouraging school retention, especially in a region where infrastructure is poor and resources are scarce.

A critical aspect of the project is the training of teachers and parent-teachers, who are the backbone of the educational system in Vakaga. Currently, the prefecture has only 8 certified teachers, while more than 250 parent-teachers, often lacking adequate training, teach in 59 schools. TGH will implement continuous training sessions for these educators, covering topics such as psychosocial support, child protection, good hygiene practices, and basic pedagogy. The aim of improving these teachers’ skills is not only to enhance the quality of education but also to ensure psychological support and increased protection for children affected by the crises.

The project also includes a community outreach component, aimed at mobilizing local communities around the importance of education, particularly for girls. Awareness campaigns will be organized in partnership with local radio stations and community organizations to promote school enrollment and encourage active participation by parents and community leaders in school management. Child protection within the school environment is a key priority of the project. TGH will develop a program to minimize risks and implement a reporting mechanism to identify and address vulnerable situations. Teachers and parent-teachers will be required to adhere to a code of conduct, and specialized training sessions will be scheduled to prevent cases of exploitation and sexual abuse.

Le projet comporte également une dimension de sensibilisation communautaire, ayant pour objectif de mobiliser les communautés locales autour de l’importance de l’éducation, notamment pour les filles. Des campagnes de sensibilisation seront organisées en partenariat avec les stations de radio locales et les organisations communautaires afin de promouvoir l’inscription scolaire et l’implication active des parents et des responsables communautaires dans la gestion des établissements scolaires.

Finally, ensuring the sustainability of the project is a significant challenge. To maintain the achievements, TGH will closely collaborate with local authorities, parent-teacher associations, and community leaders. The involvement of these key stakeholders in the oversight and maintenance of school infrastructures is crucial to ensuring that children continue to have access to quality education, even after the project concludes.