Asma* was forced to flee her village in Myanmar with her family due to political persecution when she was just 13 years old. Thousands of Rohingya refugees were murdered and their villages burnt to the ground. With nowhere to go Asma and her family joined the many other refugees on the move in search of a new home.
Asma found life in Cox’s Bazar refugee camp, Bangladesh, hard. Young girls, such as Asma, are at risk of being exploited, with child trafficking, domestic, physical and sexual violence prevalent in the camp. Asma did not feel safe walking alone to the learning centres and so stopped attending school, isolating herself away at home.
For two years Asma did not go to school.
A case worker, who is supported by Street Child, identified Asma as a child at risk. Her case worker provided a safe and confidential space for Asma to talk about her traumatic past and seek support. The case management worker told Asma about the female-only, child-friendly adolescent hubs which Street Child helps run and are safe spaces for young girls like Asma to access an education. Asma now has regular one-on-one sessions with her case worker and is receiving tailored psychological support. She has since felt safe and confident enough to visit the Street Child learning spaces, ensuring she can access an education and can also make friends with girls her own age.
This is just one of thousands of forgotten stories across the world, in countries like Nigeria and Bangladesh.
With your help, we can protect children like Asma.
Do not forget them.
*name changed for safeguarding reasons