The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)'s latest report about refugee education has found that nearly half of the 14,8 million school age refugee children in the world are left out of the education system. Therefore, there are 7.2 million refugee children who do not have access to school.

To try and combat this, the UN agency has launched a campaign in Italy from February 1-23 called "Let's color the future of refugee children," to try and improve their access to education.

Residents in Italy can support the campaign and donate money by sending a text message to the campaign number: 45588, or by calling the landline hotline and pledging a donation. Donations, say UNHCR will help provide access to education for thousands of children fleeing conflict and violence around the world.

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Funds will support programs in 26 countries

Funds collected will be sent to the UNHCR "Primary Impact" program, which works in 26 countries in the world, among them Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Niger. The program aims to guarantee access to school to 250,000 children by 2027, as well as making sure that an additional 500,000 children already registered on the program and attending school do not abandon their education.

The UNHCR report revealed that 65 percent of refugee children attend primary school. Costs are among the greatest barriers to education for many. Going to school often means unsustainable costs for families who are fleeing conflict. Costs include money spent on uniforms, books and other school materials, as well as transportation and access to the school itself.

The report also found that in particularly vulnerable contexts there are no schools to attend, or the buildings that are there are either overcrowded or lack basic facilities, such as water, and health and sanitary systems.

'Primary Impact' program

These are all barriers that the "Primary Impact" program aims to overcome. Various projects under its banner include initiatives to improve the school infrastructure, by launching construction and refurbishing works in the classrooms and providing school desks. The program also offers help with the provision of learning materials, as well as uniforms and school bags and general economic assistance to families to face the expenses tied to schooling.

The program aims to train teachers, as well as provide psycho-social support to improve the mental health of children, many of whom may have been adversely affected by their experience of fleeing their homes and living in sometimes unstable and provisory conditions.

"School saves the lives of refugee children, the proof is evident", comments Laura Iucci, Director for UNHCR fund-raising in Italy. "By attending school, children are protected from exploitation, abuse, violence, forced labor, and underage marriages. Furthermore, through education a refugee child can leave behind the trauma and return to living in an environment of reassuring normalcy, an essential aspect for healthy psychological and physical development. In addition, refugee children can integrate in a new country, socialize, learn and this way, one day, they can realize their dreams for themselves and their communities, which have welcomed them or in their own countries of origin, once the conditions will allow them to return home."

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Support from soccer stars

On February 9, Italy's premier football league, Serie A, will add its support to the campaign. Many famous faces from the Italian entertainment industry are also getting behind the initiative.

"For the survival of a refugee child, school is not less important than food, lodging, medical care. For UNHCR, in fact, in an emergency situation, assuring immediate access to education to children fleeing violence is a priority, but we need everyone's help because the available resources are not sufficient," commented Iucci.

"For this reason we are saying: let's all make a donation through the number 45588 by sending a text message or by calling the landline hotline. Together, let's color the future of refugee children."