When I grow up
Refugee children share their hopes and dreams for the future
When children are forced to flee their homes, they leave everything behind — everything except their hopes and dreams for the future. Like children everywhere, they have big plans for their grown-up lives.
Ensuring these children can access education is the key to helping them fulfill their potential. Education enables refugee children to thrive, not just survive. It protects them from exploitation and empowers them with the knowledge and skills they need to rebuild their lives.
This World Refugee Day, displaced children and young people from around the world share their aspirations for the future.
“I want to be a chauffeur or a pilot. I just want to drive.” Yasser, 10, internally displaced Yemeni.
“I want to be a teacher so I can boss people around!”
Hagir, 11, internally displaced Yemeni.
“I want to be an engineer!”
Furqan, 10, internally displaced Yemeni.
In Yemen, over 2 million children are out of school as a result of the civil war that began in 2015. With your support, UNHCR is helping refugee and displaced children continue their studies, providing educational materials and training for teachers, and repairing damaged schools.
“I come to school to increase my knowledge so that I can get a job and help educate orphan girls.”
Sumaiya, 12, Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh.
“I want to be an astronaut.”
Nur, 11, Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh.
Children make up half of the 671,000 Rohingya refugees who have fled from Myanmar into Bangladesh since last year. Many have never been to school. With your help, UNHCR has set up classrooms in refugee settlements, giving over 135,273 children access to education.
“I want to become a doctor to help sick people.”
Ro’aa, 10, Syrian refugee.
“I want to become an ophthalmologist.”
Yaman, 10, Syrian refugee.
“I want to be a lawyer. I hope to go to university when I finish school.”
Shatha, 17, Syrian refugee.
In Syria, the war has deprived almost 3 million children of an education. Some have missed years of school and others have never set foot inside a classroom. UNHCR is helping to repair destroyed schools and provide teaching supplies so that children can continue their education.
“I dream of becoming an architect.”
7-year-old Somali refugee, Asma, as she builds a house for her family with blocks.
There are an estimated 255,000 Somali refugees in Ethiopia, and over half are children. Thanks to your support, UNHCR has helped to enrol 72% of primary-aged children in school, and secondary school enrolments increased to 12% this year, up from 9% in 2017.
