What's In My Bag...

What’s In My Bag; What refugees bring when they run for their lives.

After reading this article and gaining a small glimpse into some of the journeys that these people have endured to reach safety or asylum it is almost soul destroying to see the bare necessities that they have traveled and survived with; a hat for a baby, a change of clothes, a watch, a few personal documents, a comb, a broken cell phone, a rosary…

We live with so much stuff in the developed world, too much stuff. Material possessions surround us and many add to this possession base on a daily basis. We don’t necessarily need it. We think we want it. What would it mean for us if we didn’t have it. What would we pack in one bag if we had to run?

In terms of education I have questioned the needs of the refugees and displaced people in the article and I have considered what might be essential in terms of learning spaces.

Where to start? An education that provides a safe place to learn. An education that builds hope. An education that provides a future. An education that rebuilds lives. An education that provides a sense of worth, both for themselves internally and a sense of worth in the community they are within. An education that provides a sense of meaning, a sense of direction, a higher purpose to overcome some of the devastating effects of what they have been through and what they are continuing to go through. An education to lead them out of limbo and loss…

Learning Spaces…

The Classroom: There may not be one in the sense of what we might view as a classroom per se. It may be a room, a tent or perhaps just an area to meet. However, whatever it is or is not it is essential to have a safe place to meet and to learn. Along with the classroom, be it a structure, a tent or not, the most valuable resource in this learning space is a teacher.

Beyond The Classroom: Utilising the idea of beyond the four walls of the classroom, using the community, excursions, incursions and so on may not all be viable options for refugees and displaced people, however instilling the sense that there is learning beyond the classroom and underpinning this idea and the value of learning from our surroundings and the communities beyond is integral.

The Group Space: Learning through group, cooperative and collaborative means in simplistic terms will include interaction with other students, as in essence this is how we learn, through social interaction, however truly utilising the benefits of cooperative and collaborative learning for refugees and displaced people may not be the ultimate focus of teachers in these instances.

The E Space: There may not be access or very little access to an electronic space in many situations, however for teachers with very little physical resources the E-space is an invaluable resource. Utilising online resources and online communication to develop education for refugees and displaced people is an essential part of the ongoing development of education in emergency situations. For refugees and displaced people, when accessible learning how to navigate and utilise the E-Space will be a vital component of their education.

The Personal: This space although intangible and unique to each individual is in essence a space that can provide the corner stones and building blocks from which learning begins and lives are rebuilt. Self efficacy, self direction and self reflection are all elements that are needed for people to learn effectively and successfully. Developing a sense of worth for refugees and displaced people, a sense of direction, a sense of the future through an understanding of their personal learning spaces is integral in enabling them to move forward, both in an educational sense and in a personal.

The Liminal: Building on the personal space and recognising the underlying value of self efficacy, self direction and self reflection is integral for refugees and displaced people. It enables a recognition that they are in a liminal space, both physically, emotionally and educationally. By understanding that the liminal is a space of discomfort and difficulty, but that through endurance and determination the destination enables transformation is essential for refugees and displaced people to truly move forward in a multitude of ways.