Central Africa Refugee Link

SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT PER CATEGORY OF THEME DURING THE YEAR 2002

1. GENERAL SUPPORT/REFUGEE INTEGRATION

Refugee education and awareness was in 2006, the most effective way of promoting refugee integration and eliminate isolation. The education programme sought to raise awareness in West Midlands about the status of refugees with the aim of increasing the flow of information between refugee’s groups and relevant authorities, religious leaders, and other relevant representatives.

During this period under review, one big event related to refugee integration was held in Smethwick, Sandwell.

On 25th November 2006 Care Link has networked with other local refugee organisations to celebrate refugee integration. The network held a series of successful workshops covering many important issues: gender equality, education, AIDS awareness to name few. This event was the first of its kind for the refugees from Central Africa and all participants were pleased with the response it generated.

1. SATURDAY HOMEWORK CLUB

Activities concerning the promotion of refugee children’s education have taken place mainly on Saturdays during the school year.

Project title: Saturday Homework Club for Refugee Children in Smethwick

Background Information
Out of School/ Summer Activities	Mentoring	Tutoring	Counselling/ Therapy	Educational visits	Clinic/ Provider-based	Service/ Vocational learning	Parenting	Other

Outcomes
Educational/ Cognitive	Social/ Emotional	Life Skills	Physical Health	Behaviour Problems	Reproductive	Citizenship	Mental Health

The sort of activities that refugee children have been doing during the period of the project

All homework activities were related to work that children are doing at school. However, all homework assignments were not always written work. For young children it was largely:

• Reading with parents or volunteers
• Informal games to practice mathematical skills

For older children, homework included:

• Reading
• Preparing a presentation to the class
• Finding out information
• Making something
• Trying out a simple scientific experiment
• Understanding the English culture

At the end of the grant period children who continue to attend the club have asked Care Link Management Committee to expand the existing programme by covering more subject content, that is to say allow time for researching information on internet and encourage independent study skills and reflection.

In response to this new need, Care Link has come up with the idea of providing facilities for internet access which could enable children to use on Saturdays when local libraries are closed or any day during the week when libraries are highly in use. We now have a space for 6 computers to be broad banded in our office environment and we are exploring ways to raise fund to acquire 6 computers.

We hope this scheme will continue for more years and we are optimistic that such a setting will offer sessions for parents to understand the ways in which their children learn, and in particular, extend the understanding of learning through play activities. Such scheme to our understanding will help develop positive attitudes to learning and social skills.