Ethiopia #5: Refugee camps in Gambella
On June 5, we traveled to the first refugee camp to visit the preschools and a Bible school, and to meet hundreds of refugee children (some who were born and raised in the camp that opened in 2014). We started at the school at Center One. John Jock has visited all 6 camps regularly and has a home in Kule.
We next visited the Sobat Bible School at Zion Presbyterian Church. The second class of students there sang for us and told us about the school and its challenges. We left reading glasses with the Pastor to share with students and church members.
We visited another active preschool in the camp at Dhorkotni. Again, there were many children, some wearing the uniforms supplied by Outreach in 2019.
Most of the classrooms are very basic, made from sticks. They accommodate children who sit on the ground and have a single teacher for 100+ students and 1 blackboard. There are needs for teacher and student supplies, more uniforms, and incentives for the “volunteer” teachers in the 30+ pre-schools among the 6 camps.
We were also pleased to see 2 of the youth who were trained in trauma healing. They are in the photo below with their chaperone during their training in Gambella and the master trainer Kor Majak. The trauma healing groups are active in each camp. The Outreach Foundation has helped to provide materials in the Nuer language for them.
