ISSN 1710-6931 July 23, 2004 Issue 26
FEATURE ARTICLES

The Rebirth of Conakry Refugee School

by Lakshmi Poorna

The Conakry Refugee School (CRS) in Conakry, the capital of the Republic of Guinea, was created under the sponsorship of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in 1995.

A lack of funds forced the IRC to close the school in 2000, leaving over three thousand refugee students from Liberia and Sierra Leone unable to continue their education.

Isaac F. Davis, the principal of the school was not happy seeing his students roaming the streets. He organized a parent/teacher association meeting, using it to explain the negative effects of their children growing up illiterate. more>>

FAI And RESPECT Share Similar Goals

by Jason Miks

FilmAid International (FAI) was formed in 1999 against the backdrop of the conflict in Kosovo. Its founders realized the basic requirements for survival, food and shelter, were being met. However, the less tangible psychological needs that help make life more bearable, were being overlooked or even forgotten.

Following their success in the Balkans, the Red Cross and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) asked FAI for its assistance in Africa. In 2001 FAI was able to offer its services to refugees from Sudan, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Rwanda.

Within weeks of its creation FAI was showing movies to refugees in Macedonia and offering a much needed distraction to the troubles around them. more>>

PHOTO GALLERY

 

FilmAid screening

FilmAid International (FAI) screens a movie at an unidentified refugee camp. FAI, with refugee input, carefully selects non-violent, family oriented films that are culturally appropriate.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

A Special Thank You

We give a special thank you to Bérengère Cortade for her long term contribution of skills and commitment to the RESPECT French e-Zine. She has done a wonderful job helping edit the e-Zine and translating it into French. We hope she continues to work with us after settling into her new home. We warmly welcome Sandrine Cortet who is the new Editor for the French e-Zine.


LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Sir,

My deepest thanks for allowing me, twice a month, to be close to you and, more importantly, to be aware of the life of the refugees. Unfortunately, the refugee's life has not seen any improvement; refugees still live in extreme poverty; those of us who are refugees in Africa still have to suffer exploitation and humiliation.

So strong are these that sometimes, we try and pass for natives of our asylum country, although it is not legal. We are sent to prison without judgement, are insulted and our rights are denied to us; because of our status of refugees. From this, one could almost be led to think that refugees are not human being but an object to be exploited. We are not allowed to leave the camps, where we are parked as prisoners, without permission and it can never be obtained without a bribe. What kind of a life is this? What are we going to do? When will it end?

I call on the politicians who only know the art of war to govern to stop their dirty work. They are at home, they eat well, their children go to school, while the innocent civil population suffers; our children cannot benefit from a good education, our streets are filled with so-called 'street children". Where have you seen a street give birth to children? This name is a sign of the irresponsibility and lack of political maturity of our leaders.

Sir, I would ask you to publish this letter for everyone to read.

So long.
Bilombele Asukulu


As in any newsletter or magazine, RESPECT e-zine is committed to striving for interesting articles and announcements concerning refugee issues all around the world.

If you have any suggestions or would like to contribute an article, contact the e-Zine editor, Will Wallace at editor@respectrefugees.org.

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