No Lost Generation

Rohingya youngsters are the hope for their future

It was a sultry sunny day in 2019. I was standing on a road in the middle of a Rohingya camp in Cox’s bazar. I took myself under the shade of a small shop beside. Some shops in the Rohingya camps have benches and shade for sitting. There were no customers in the shop. I was alone, sitting and waiting for my colleagues. Suddenly, my eyes moved to the shopkeeper. I saw him writing something while sitting in the shopkeeper's chair. I was a bit curious because it is a very unusual scenario in the Rohingya camp. The shopkeeper is about 17 or 18 years old. A book in the Rohingya language was open in front of him. He was writing something in his notebook. He was very attentive. I was enjoying watching his study. After a few minutes, I could not help but break the silence and said, "Hi! Can I ask you a question? "

"Yes," he answered.

I asked him, "What are you doing?"

"Studying"

"So far, I know there is no formal education system for Rohingya youth to study in camps."

"Yes! You are right. "

My curiosity grows higher. I asked, "What is your name?"

"Tahsan "

How old are you?

"18 years"

I indicated his book and said, "Is this a text book for the Myanmar curriculum?"

He answered, "Yes!"

"Where did you get this book?"

"We collect these books from Myanmar."

I became more interested after observing the desire for education in him. "How do you read alone without any school or teacher?"

He said, "I am not alone. There are so many Rohingya youth in camps studying on their own. We have so many educated Rohingya senior brothers in camps that they professionally tutor us. I took lessons from a tutor. "

He was very friendly and open to me. I asked him, "May I ask you some personal questions?"

He said, "Yes! Sure! "

Who is the owner of this shop?

"I am the owner of this shop."

I was just astonished. I can't solve the puzzle. He is the owner of this shop, which means he earns more for living here. As far as I know, the majority of Rohingya people in camps are not enrolled in school. Especially those who make a good living.This young boy is an entrepreneur and attracted to education. It’s a rare but fantastic combination.

I asked him, "You are the owner of the shop. That means you have a better earning source." So why are you studying? "

He said, "All these are temporary here. What will happen when we get back home? Education will support me. Education is the only key to survival. "

I am a humanitarian worker who has spent the last eight months in Cox's Bazar. interviews with so many Rohingya people in camps. Most of them dream of returning home. But today I discovered something new within myself.Some of them are also preparing themselves for repatriation.

The Rohingya refugees are the people of Myanmar. Due to violence since 1990, over a million Rohingya refugees fled from Myanmar. The largest influx began on August 25, 2017 when violence broke out in Myanmar and displaced more than seven hundred thousand refugees in Cox's bazar. Cox's bazar housed over a million displaced Rohingya.This is the largest refugee camp in the world.

The government of Bangladesh is working for their repatriation. Bangladesh and Myanmar have bilaterally agreed to the repatriation of Rohingya. The government is trying to repatriate them, but none of them is interested in coming back. The issue is that there is still no secure environment in which to live. So, it has remained an unsolved issue for decades. Though they dream that they will return home one day, we don’t see any action for repatriation among them. For the first time, I noticed a deliberate action in this young boy.That makes me curious about him. Anyway, let's get back to our conversation.

So I said, "So you believe in repatriation?"

He said, "Absolutely!" I saw confidence in his face.

This youngster mesmerised me. The more I excavate, the more it makes me curious. In the Rohingya camps, only the Rohingya language and English are taught in the classes. UNICEF is the largest education provider in the Rohingya response. UNICEF currently provides informal education opportunities to 220,000 Rohingya children aged 4–14 years.

There is a tailor-made curriculum in camps called the Learning Competency Framework and Approach (LCFA). 90 per cent of the students study at LCFA levels one and two, and a few Rohingya students study LCFA levels three and four, which are equivalent to grades three to eight.

Following a landmark decision by the government of Bangladesh, the Cox's Bazar education sector is introducing the Myanmar curriculum on a pilot basis from grade six to nine in 2020.

We think the Rohingya people will be a lost generation without education. But I found hope in talking with this boy. So, there are so many Rohingya youngsters studying on their own at home. These youngsters are the hope for this society. One day, they will represent their society. The conversation continues.

I said, "You don't have any option for a secondary school certificate here." So how will you earn that?

He said, "Now I am reading the text book for grade eight in the Myanmar curriculum. I will need two more years for the secondary school certificate exam. I hope we will return within that time. "

I said, "If you can't return within that time,"

He looks very determined. It doesn't matter; I will wait. I am not bothered about the certificate. I want to learn. If I can make myself educated, it will support me anywhere in the world. "

Sounds like a plan to me. His voice gives me confidence. Despite the fact that he is behind in his studies in comparison to his age, I can sense his dedication to education. also makes me feel that they will never be a lost generation. These youngsters will build the future of the Rohingya community.

I said, "Can you tell me about your family?"

He said, "I have a mother and a sister living with me. I have an older brother living separately. I run a family and my education costs come from the earnings of this shop. "

I found him very responsible and distinctive in this civilisation. I hope these youngsters will lead the future generations of this deprived society. Finally, I got his permission to publish his story and took some photographs of him while studying.