Angelina Daniel is only 13 years old, but already she is an active member of her community. She’s an advocate against child marriage, and through a music programme run by the organization I CAN, she has recorded several songs about peace, and hopes to one day become a musician. “My greatest inspiration is Dr Franko,” she says. “He is South Sudanese like me”.

Aside from music, Angelina loves school. “My favourite part about school was the fun things I did with my classmates. We used to mime, sing, narrate stories, draw pictures and dance togetherr. I really miss that.”

Her friend Bosco Taban is also a student in Bidibidi refugee settlement and a budding musician. He is trying to make the most of the lockdown, but it is hard to remain optimistic he says. “I had the hope of leaving primary school level this year, but because of COVID-19, now I don’t even know what to do. My parents have been advising us but things like teaching us at home, there is no one. My hope however is that the lockdown will soon be lifted, and we go back to school.”

No access to learning tools

Since March 2020, schools in Uganda have been closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 15 million learners in the country have been affected, including 600,000 refugee children. In Bidibidi refugee settlement, one of the largest in the world hosting over 280,000 refugees mainly from the Equatoria region in South Sudan, more than 80,000 kids have been affected.

The government of Uganda and international agencies have put measures in place to ensure that children do not lose out completely on their education. The Ministry of Education and Sports in partnership with UNICEF and other partners have supported the printing and distribution of learning materials for primary and secondary schools. Lessons are also being broadcast on TV and radio stations. But both Bosco and Angelina say they have no access to any of these tools. “I know that there are lessons going on on several radios and televisions since government shutdown schools, but I do not attend simply because we do not have a radio set or television screen at home,” says Angelina.

So instead, Angelina helps her mother earn some money. The family last saw their father in 2016 when he escorted them to Nimule-Elugu boarder to seek refuge in Uganda. Since then, they haven’t heard from him although Angelina believes that he is still alive. “I have to help my mother. I have three siblings and she is the one looking after all of us. Now that I am not in school, I have been selling pancakes and greens by the roadside to raise some money for grinding our maize. I also help my mother with the cooking.”

“Those people want me to get married against my will”

For many refugee children, school is not just a place where they go to learn, but it also provides structure and a refuge from the harshness of life outside. For many vulnerable children, schools are where they get safe water, food and mental health support. Without it, they are exposed to sexual, physical and psychological abuse.

Janet Akwero is 17 and also lives in Bidibidi refugee settlement. She has been badly affected by the nationwide closure of educational institutions. She lost both her parents during the civil war between the reinstated First Vice President of South Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir. 

An orphan, Janet Akwero fled to Uganda with her uncle who she says has been mistreating her since they were in South Sudan.

“Those people do not treat me well and they don’t love me. They want me to get married against my will, so that they can get rid of me. They don’t buy for me inessential things like cloths and they force me to cook but deny me the food I have cooked. Sometimes they beat me up,” Janet Akwero explains.  

Aside from the mental and physical abuses that she gets at home, Akwero is worried about her future academic journey. Without the support of her uncle, she finally got the chance to study through a programme run by Windle Trust International. But now that she is stuck at home, she’s afraid that she too will be forced to marry.