HELP ERITREAN REFUGEES SCHOOL UNESCO IN KASSALA

An Urgent Appeal to Support Eritrean Refugees Secondary School ‘UNESCO’ in Kassala

The Eritrean Refugees Secondary School in Kassala, commonly known ‘UNESCO School’, was founded because of the turmoil and war in Eritrea particularly during the intensive period between 1975-1977, that saw an exodus of young people fleeing to Sudan.

To stem the flight of Eritreans going overseas and recognising the importance of continued secondary education in English to young Eritreans, the ELF made mega efforts to establish the school by trilateral agreements between the Sudanese government, the UNHCR and ELF in an English curriculum officially in 1977. The ELF was to provide qualified, competent teachers and to run the school. The Sudanese government was to supply decent school buildings and UNHCR agreed to provide funding. For 20 years from 1977-1997 the schools sustained and were very productive.

After the independence of Eritrea the UNHCR financial support was terminated. The school's’ fate became precarious, the students entangled in limbo. In 1997, the Catholic Church, already running primary level schools in Kassala known as Vatican schools, intervened to rescue the chaotic situation. Since then, for the last 26 years, the Catholic Church charities, mainly Capuchin Friars continued successfully to provide financial and material support and still are propping them up. For obvious reasons like Corona and the world economic crisis the funding from the charities to the Catholic Church Schools dried up and the school is facing serious existential challenges again. Despite all the challenges, the school has continued rendering its renowned educational services to hundreds of Eritrean refugees.

In the last two years, former students of the school and a small Canadian based charity helped to resuscitate the school. Unfortunately, currently the school has no helping hand. Recently, the Alumni association for former ‘UNESCO’ students is being formed to laser focus on the school, to support the finances, to encounter the challenges and to relieve the plight of the school with shoestring budgets as an initial start. We strongly appeal to all former students, Eritreans and friends of Eritrea to contribute to this GoFundMe account.[ GoFundMe link]

We would like to acknowledge and appreciate all who supported and continue to support the school.