Group of Refugee Student Parents

by Sandrine Cortet

"The future of the world greatly relies on our willingness to help in its building. And our best natural resources are our children; a look at them leaves us confused. We still believe Life has a praiseworthy meaning." The GPER Members

The GPER, Group of Refugee Student Parents, contacted RESPECT last Autumn in order to have about twenty young refugees aged 7 to 20 take part in a French RESPECT letter exchange in 2005-2006. Curious about what was behind those four letters GPER and always ready to publicize initiatives toward refugees especially the ones lead by refugees themselves, we've asked a few questions of their Executive Secretary, Mr. Sembeya Lumbu to know more about their actions and organization.

RESPECT: Could you please introduce the GPER?

Sembeya Lumbu: The GPER, Groupement de Parents d'Élèves Réfugiés (Group of Refugee Students' Parents) is an organization incorporated under Beninese law dedicated to promote refugee student education in Benin. We observed that refugee children are the first victims from non-profit organizations and UNHCR (United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees) progressive withdrawal and priorities reorientatating towards other beneficiaries. So, we decided to create the organization in 2002. This year matched with the year of the Caritas budget reduction while this organization was playing an essential role here in refugee social assistance (Caritas International is a global network of Catholic relief, development and social service organizations towards the poor and oppressed). GPER is composed only of refugee students' parents. Members all have different nationalities. They are seven -- four women and three men. Teachers are not directly associated due to the diversity of the schools locations in four different areas.

RESPECT: What are the organization objectives?

Sembeya Lumbu:

• To struggle for the respect of refugee children Education rights.
• To enable refugee children to be autonomous.
• To help provide social and economic assistance to refugee families in order to give children the best chances of school success and of a decent life.
• To raise awareness among parents and partners on increasing difficulties experienced by refugee children who are "left aside".

RESPECT: In the organization, who decides and how?

Sembeya Lumbu: We decide together in General Assembly. Each voted decision must obtain at least 75 percent of the ballot.

RESPECT: What are your financial sources?

Sembeya Lumbu: The only financial source is from the parents themselves based on each one's means.

RESPECT: Could you relate one or two well-managed GPER actions?

Sembeya Lumbu: In 1994 during the war, along her route, at the Tanzanian border, "Mommy YOHANA NDIHOKUBWAYO ", a Burundese widow refugee in her fifties, decided to take care of a girl called HARERIMANA. The young girl now aged 11 who has been living in Ms. Yohana's place since then, became more and more uneasy and started to take more and more advantage of her foster mother. When she was 9, she broke up with the school and began to play hooky. We asked the Porto Novo (Benin Capital) Religious Sisters to take her in. After 6 months, she left the Sisters' organization and went back to school regularly despite the teachers' strike movements. We can also report Mr. Kabwe's story. He is married and a father of three school aged children. He didn't have enough money to pay the tuitions. the Children didn't go to school and were stuck at home. We negotiated with the School Principal and he took two of the children at school for one academic year as a humanitarian action.

RESPECT: How did you heard about RESPECT?

Sembeya Lumbu: I heard about RESPECT by chance during a trip in 2003. At the Nigeria-Benin border checkpoint, Beninese police was arresting a children traffic dealer. A Nigerian talked to me about this organization and gave me RESPECT email address.

RESPECT: What do you expect from the letter exchange program?

Sembeya Lumbu: We wish children could open themselves and have access to the world by sharing ideas and Peace education that lacks to our children who experienced the war. This program will bring a cultural sharing, courage and hope for a social and economic integration to the students.

RESPECT: Do you have other partners?

Sembeya Lumbu: Not really. The Religious Sisters encourage the Group. We also keep in special touch with Caritas and UNICEF.

We thank Mr. Sembeya Lumbu for this enriching discussion. It shows that initiative even with tiny financial means can be constructive. This also points out that TOGETHER, we can enhance refugee community life, especially the life of children who are the most affected by the war aftermath.