Australia for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency’s charity in Australia, has partnered with Skype to offer a world-first educational opportunity to an Australian school.  Sefiani worked with Australia for UNHCR to develop the innovative concept which will connect an Australian secondary school with a school in Uganda.

The Here & There program offers the opportunity for an Australian school to work on a collaborative education project with the Australian-funded school at Nakivale refugee settlement in Uganda.  The children involved will be given the chance to work together on a creative project to learn more about each other’s lives and break down the perceived barriers to education.

Here & There is aimed at raising awareness around issues facing refugees among Australian schoolchildren, their parents and the wider population. It is purpose-designed to dovetail with the Australian geography curriculum, ensuring participating children attain maximum educational benefit while undertaking this life-changing opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences with children who have very different lives.

Commenting on the partnership, Naomi Steer, National Director for Australia for UNHCR, said: “Many of the children in Nakivale have spent nearly their whole lives in refugee situations, so the opportunity to meet kids on the other side of the world is very exciting.

“Our donors have also really embraced opportunities for deeper connection with refugees.  On previous visits to Nakivale, we have carried written messages of support from our Australian donors to share with the children and their families.  They have been very enthusiastic about this exchange, asking for other ways they could interact.  The partnership with Skype gives us the tools to make this a reality,” Ms Steer said.

“After four years of Australian support for Nakivale refugee settlement, we are delighted to be able to foster direct links between the children of Nakivale and their Australian counterparts. Our Australian donors have funded many areas of Nakivale such as shelter, water, health and education facilities, including building the first ever secondary school.

“We want to celebrate and recognise this special connection by developing closer links between Australia and the refugee settlement,” she said.

The project builds on Skype’s existing partnership with UNHCR and commitment to breaking down barriers to communication: “We are delighted to collaborate with UNHCR to promote the Here & There programme,” said Jacqueline Botterill, Skype’s CSR Manager. “As part of Skype’s dedication to connecting everyone on the planet, the use of real-time video will offer the selected Australian school and students from Nakivale refugee settlement an immediate way to interact with new cultures, languages and ideas, all without leaving the classroom.”

For more information on the project or to register your interest, please visit the Here & There website.  You can also share information with teachers and students interested in the project via Australia for UNHCR’s Twitter and Facebook profiles.  Applications close on 19 August 2011.