01-10-2024 | di COOPI

Improving access to education in Chad: a transformative project for vulnerable children in Sila

COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale has been working in Chad for over 30 years and has gained wide experience and in-depth knowledge of the country, particularly in the Lac and Sila regions. In particular, COOPI has promoted a variety of interventions aimed at solving problems in key fields such as education, protection, food security and livelihoods.  The new project "Inclusive and quality response to the educational needs of the most vulnerable children and youth affected by the crisis in Chad", implemented from August 2024 for two years with funds from European Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), thus responds to the chronic multifactorial crisis that significantly affects local populations and is fuelled by the influx of migrants from Sudan.

Through the evaluation of quantitative and qualitative data, COOPI identified the most urgent needs of the populations living in the border regions.  Inequitable access to education for vulnerable children and adolescents in the region, inadequate and damaged school infrastructure, lack of teaching resources and qualified staff, and inadequate learning conditions are at the heart of the project's priorities for action. Finally, the crisis has also highlighted the urgent need for psychosocial support for children traumatised by displacement and conflict.

The multi-sectoral response to the problem promoted by COOPI involves different types of intervention, with the active participation of national and regional authorities to ensure sustainability. The renovation and construction of school infrastructure, as well as the distribution of school kits and teaching materials, are two essential elements aimed at improving health conditions and reducing inequalities in access to educational resources. Furthermore, in collaboration with professionals in the field, the organisation plans to develop appropriate places to provide psychosocial support. Similarly, to ensure quality education, training of local teachers is part of the activities, as is the promotion of inclusive teaching approaches adapted to local needs. After careful assessment, the association will particularly benefit those considered most vulnerable: especially young women, people with disabilities, unaccompanied or separated children and children with special needs.

COOPI has been present in Chad since 1976 and uses a multi-sectoral approach to respond to humanitarian crises and support the development of the population. Its actions focus on child protection, emergency education, women's empowerment and conflict prevention, particularly in the regions of Lac, N'Djamena, Ouaddai, Sila and Salamat. COOPI offers psychosocial support to trauma victims, creates safe spaces for children, promotes the sustainable management of agro-pastoral resources and runs refugee projects, particularly after the Sudanese crisis in May 2023. With a team of international and local workers, COOPI has directly helped more than 140,000 beneficiaries.