My name is Amma Zia as age of 14, one of the students of Grade 3, studying at Community Learning Centre – (2) under the Rohingya Aid & Empowerment Network, Supported by CRRIC. I am living with my parents, Md Solim and Romjida at camp -11, Block (D-6) along with (4) family members. I’m the third daughter. I was born in Myanmar, in a small village Kyein Chaung, Maung Daw Township, Northern Rakhine State. I was almost 6 years when I escaped with my family to Bangladesh on 25th August 2017. I haven’t remembered what had happened in my country as I was a very small child then. When I was 8 years at Refugee camp in Bangladesh, I was quite conscious and used to hear from my parents and grandparents shared what they had faced immense challenges while they were fleeing the country by the Burmese Tatmadaw’s (Military intelligent organization) clearance operation. Thrashing it out in the gathering, all of theirs topics were that many people were killed, girls and women were raped, children were burned alive, Muslim leaderships were being false arrested and villages were burned down into arch. The entire state was under surveillance. “If the villagers had managed not to leave the county while the military launched the operation in 2017, many people would have lost their lives on burning fire” my grandfather told me. Haven’t you got goosebumps? Hearing those horrible contexts made me scared and restlessness in my day to day life.
By the time I was 8 years, my father made me enroll at UNICFE Learning Centre in Level – 1. At the beginning of my journey at school, I didn’t recognize that school is a place of happiness as I had to maintain Covid-19 protocol and I would had to avoid gathering with my friends either at school or outside. Since all the restrictions were being removed concerning pandemic then I realized how joyful a Learning Centre is. Sitting together with classmates while learning, drawing, playing and participating in different Co-curricular activities, I would have ability to cope with my stress on account of hearing horrible events from parents and grandparents, great grandparents in shelter. One of the happiest moments at LC is that teacher calls my name every class day in a register and it was really dignifying me that my details were identified at the first day to LC by the teachers. They registered my name in the enrollment. I’m really proud of it. My name will be still alive in the enrollment many decades.
There was a time we learnt informally in our LC together with friends more than three years with the curriculum called LCFA (Learning Competency Framework Approach). Eventually that informal system had been not much effectively carried our education but it’s helped us to cope our stresses and made a bounding relationship with other classmates which enhance my confidence to keep my dreams and I was continue going to the Learning Center for 3.5 years.
When I was (11) years over at 2021, I had to stop going to my Learning Center intentionally because of there is unlimited problem arise around the Rohingya Refugee Camp and facing so much barrier from our community social norms. However, I had to stay at home all the time which is also a bunch of struggling living in the small tiny shelter where no proper sanitation, toilet, bathroom, no proper privacy for girls. Sometime, I feel so uncomfortable and unwanted thinking which effected to my growth of well-being and I was emotionally stuck. I was just spending my time by drawing at home and sometime helping my mom during cooking.
Earlier 2022, I heard that the LCFA curriculum was completely changed into Myanmar New Curriculum was implemented in the camp that was a dream of my parents as well as me. The Children are receiving formal text books of Myanmar new curriculum alongside with stationeries and materials. Once I heard that, I was totally sad as I can’t go outside freely and can’t go the Learning Center without barriers which helped me to boost my weakness even more than before. Somehow, I got 2 books from grade – 3 of Myanmar New Curriculum from one of my friends and I was reading it at home in the night anyhow. If I didn’t understand anything, I have to skip as no one can help me in my family. But I have my dream to continue my education.
I like reading and reciting poems and rhymes because it stimulates my mind. When we were recite Myanmar National Anthem in our Learning Center, our sound becomes togetherness so calming that nearby community comes to listen to us what we are reciting. Both of us feel pleasure. I also like to draw as it is just like a workout for my brain. It has calming effect, too.
My favorite subject is Myanmar as it’s my National Language and it’s effortless for me to read and write. I am also not so far with the other subjects which I practice. Every night in my home, I practice it. After 3 years of deprived from my education, I heard that there is an opportunity came to get the access of Home Based Education under the Rohingya Aid & Empowerment Network (RAEN) in my block, besides of my shelter which needs only 2 minutes to reach from my home. Also, I heard that the center will be a separate girl center which is very perfect for adolescent girl like me. I decided to restart my education again and not to miss this opportunity as well. I was enrolled at CLC – 2 in last month by giving a Placement Test. Once I went to the center first day, the teacher provided me a set of Grade – 3 Textbook of Myanmar Formal Curriculum along with a school bag which has all the Educational Materials. Once I received all the material, I was so much glad and feel so proud myself. In our center, we are (22) classmates and we study 4 subjects such as Burmese, English, Mathematic and Life Skill. Every day, we come together in the center and play together in the center. I am so happy when I am with my classmates in our center because our center is very beautiful and well set up with decorations. Our Teacher is always encouraging us and teaches us with very clear instructions and explanation. It helps me to boost my strength and to acquire new capacities. We can celebrate different of days in our center. I always encourage to my classmates to achieve Education so that they can build their future themselves. Now, I am continuing my education properly. I would like to say my heartfelt gratitude to those who are working hard to establish this center and supporting our center to get all the materials freely.
My ambition is to become a teacher because teaching is one of the noble professions. I believe that my ambitions will firmly in place if I study consciously. In my community, girls and women are not allowed freely to study. It is one of the obstacles for Rohingya girls and women. This is a white humiliation. Everyone deserves learning. When I can reach my goal, I will sensitize and motivate those parents who are very reluctant to allow their daughters to participant in learning or in social activities.
Education plays a very essential role in nurturing civilized society. It is a belief to be tolerance, peace and coexistence. I therefore, would like to request “Please CRRIC to continue support and help strengthen my future. Also, to establish more center like our center as there is many more girls who are already deprived from education in the Rohingya Refugee Camp”.