SARASOTA - If you're an American, an education is pretty attainable, from pre-school through post-grad to adult education. But in Africa, millions of children do not have those kind of opportunities. So now one Suncoast professor is doing her part to change that.
They are boys and girls that University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee professor Dr. Lynn McBrien says have the same hopes and dreams as children in the states. "They're ever bit as intelligent, creative."
But in order to attend high school in places like Ghana, it's costly. "They may not have the $25 for a year for school fees, or they may not have $10 to buy a uniform," said Dr. McBrien.
Dr. McBrien learned from her past 2 trips to Africa that it's nearly impossible for children in refugee camps to attend school. These children, she says, are searching for a way out and a way to escape constant fears. "Fear of abduction, fear of becoming a child soldier, fear of becoming a sex slave...many girls are abducted and used as sex slaves by the rebels," she says.
Dr. McBrien has always been passionate about social justice, and is heading back overseas this weekend to continue researching the effects of war on these children. But most importantly, she will be training their teachers so they can provide their students with the same education ours get daily. "It's hard to see how much privilege we have, unless you actually go spend time working with people from camps."
But her teaching doesn't just stop in Africa. "The future teachers that I teach need to know the differences between refugee experiences and other immigrants who may not have had anything near like their whole lives under war," she said.
It's something that she said will in the end will make a impact abroad and here at home. "Having our graduates be prepared to speak about the kinds of experiences that other students around the world are having will translate into our elementary students being more socially aware," said Bonnie Jones, USF Sarasota-Manatee Regional Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs.
If you are interested in making a donation to help the students in Africa or for more information contact
Dr. Lynn McBrien.
