Digital Resources for Afghan Refugee Children
Resources
The Afghan Children’s Songbook Project strives to revitalize the children’s music of Afghanistan which was almost completely eradicated by the war and oppression that has afflicted Afghanistan for over 30 years. Fifty thousand copies of the songbook, Qu Qu Qu Barg-e-Chinaar: Children’s Songs from Afghanistan and Awasan See Sana have been distributed to pre-schools, elementary schools and orphanages and traveling libraries across Afghanistan. It has been used both to introduce children to the vibrant music of Afghanistan and also as a basic literacy text.
The Afghan Children’s Songbook Project has now released newly designed visual/digital songbooks with Farsi/Pashto voiceover and English subtitles. You can access the content HERE.
The U.S. Department of Education has curated a collection of educational resources, student and family engagement resources, fact sheets to ensure civil rights to education, policy documents, and general cultural and linguistic facts to help guide State Education Agencies (SEAs), Local Education Agencies (LEAs), Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), and other community-based education providers called Keeping the Promise. On the Educational Resources page, materials from Creative Associates International (in partnership with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education under the USAID-funded All Children Reading Afghanistan) can be found. There is also material from the International Rescue Committee and Pratham StoryWeaver featured. Resources are in Dari, Pashto, and English.
You can access the content HERE.
‘Darakht-e danesh’ means knowledge tree in Dari, one of the official languages of Afghanistan. The Darakht-e Danesh Online Library for Educators is a repository of open educational resources for teachers, teacher trainers, school administrators, literacy workers and others involved in furthering education in Afghanistan. These open source resources include lesson plans, pedagogical tools, exercises, experiments, reading texts, work books, curricula and other resources for use in Afghan classrooms.
You can access the content HERE.
SIL International developed the Bloom software to help language communities create and adapt reading materials in local languages. The Bloom Library holds over 10,000 books that communities can download to translate into their own languages. Bloom is software that facilitates translating the book into their own language, recording an audio reading of the book and then publishing the books in various print and digital forms.
Afghan Children Read was a five-year early grade reading reform initiative. It was funded by USAID and implemented by Creative Associates International, Inc. The project started in 2016 and ended in 2021. You can access the books from this initiative HERE. In the collection there are 132 books in Dari (Grades 1 – 3) and 209 books in Pashto (Grades 1 – 3).
Some of these stories are also featured in the printed books donated by HP and are being distributed in Virginia, Maryland, and California.
The Global Digital Library (GDL) was developed to increase the availability of high-quality reading resources—reading instruction books and storybooks for leisure reading—in languages children use and understand. It is an open-source library for schools and school systems, donor agencies and their partners, publishers, digital distributors and content providers, parents, and children.
The GDL has 104 books in Pashto available HERE.
Some of these stories are also featured in the printed books donated by HP and are being distributed in Virginia, Maryland, and California.
Education Above All has developed educational resources for continuous learning for the Afghan refugee children in order to support a short-term and quick learning and growth program. These cost-free, screen-free resources include: 1) Socio-Emotional Learning Package (co-created with Amal Alliance) , 2) Survival English Package, 3) Flashcards, 4) Games Books, 5) Life Skills Package, 6) Host Country Package, 7) Audio Downloads, 8) Literacy Packages, and 9) Numeracy Packages. Each workbook is designed for month-long learning for 4 to 16 year-olds and can be student-led or supported by volunteers, only requiring basic stationery such as paper and pencils. Instructions are also available in Dari and Pashto. You can find the downloadable material and more information HERE.
Some of these resources are also featured in the printed books donated by HP and are being distributed in Virginia, Maryland, and California.
Room to Read’s online learning platform, Literacy Cloud, hosts easy-to-access online books, which have been especially developed by children’s authors and illustrators around the world for children in primary school. The books are available to download for offline use. Literacy Cloud also hosts professional development videos for educators and children’s book creators on topics ranging from building a habit of reading to what makes a great children’s book.
Feed the Monster is an app developed Curious Learning that teaches children the fundamentals of reading. The goal of the activity is to collect monster eggs and feed them letters so they can grow into new friends. Feed The Monster uses proven ‘play to learn’ techniques to engage kids and help them learn to read. Children enjoy collecting and growing pet monsters while learning reading fundamentals.
Feed the Monster is available in Pashto HERE, as well as many other languages on Google Play.
Storyvoice was created through the MIT Media Lab – Refugee Learning Accelerator, designed as a tool to help Syrian refugee students in Lebanon practice reading English, a foreign language used widely in Lebanese schools. Today, this technology is helping children learn to read and practice new languages across the Middle East, Asia, and the US.
LearnEnglish consists of a variety of courses from all age ranges – from kids to adults. These course have been specially created by the British Council, the world’s English teaching experts. Below you will find links to the different courses offered.
Upwardly Global is the first and longest-serving national organization that helps immigrants and refugees restart their careers and bring their skills and perspectives into the American workforce. Upwardly Global’s innovative skill-building and networking programs coach internationally trained professionals in rebuilding professional careers and U.S. employers in accessing their talents with inclusive hiring practices. To date, Upwardly Global has placed more than 7,500 people, adding $358 million to the economy each year.
The organization has created a specific platform for Afghan Job Seekers that includes the following areas:
- Understanding U.S. Culture and Communication
- Creating an American Style Resume
- Building Professional Contacts
- Mastering Interview Skills
- Exploring Licensing Requirements
The Tent Coalition for Afghan Refugees is a network of diverse companies from across the U.S. stepping up to integrate Afghan refugees, including by training and hiring them.
As part of the Tent Coalition, HP committed to establishing six HP Learning Studios in Lebanon and Jordan to engage refugee youth in developing skills and help to give refugee students access to the latest education technology while providing adults the opportunity for employment re-skilling.
HP also committed to piloting the HP School Cloud, a new technology which brings open education resources to rural and underserved communities, to improve education outcomes for refugees in Uganda. HP and its partners, including Education Cannot Wait, UNHCR and Learning Equality, will start in 3 schools. Based on the success of the pilot, the commitment may expand to 15 schools in Uganda, impacting approximately 5,000 children, and be scaled to other countries. You can learn more about the initiative HERE.
Programs
Wondrous Learning Center Chess Game Day
Saturday, August 13th
Chess is a great game for all ages and builds cognitive, mathematical, and strategic skills. The mEducation Alliance wants to provide a space for chess players of all experience levels to meet and play together. We hosted our first gathering of chess players at our Wondrous Learning Center at the Eastpines Community Building in Riverdale, Maryland.
Wondrous Learning Center Neighborhood Festival
The mEducation Alliance, the Metamorphosis Community Project, and Eastpines Community Association co-hosted a Wondrous Learning Center Neighborhood Festival on Saturday, July 30th from 10 am – 1 pm. It was held at the Eastpines Community Association Building – 5819 East Pine Dr., Riverdale, MD 20737.
There were various forms of entertainment, including a moon bounce, art activities, game play, and even juggling! There was books given out in English, Dari and Pashto. Attendees even helped plant a butterfly garden on-site. Along with some great food, there was also be other organizations in attendance providing guidance on community resources.
We will be sharing more details about the event in an upcoming eNews so be sure to subscribe HERE to learn more and be updated on future activities.
Wondrous Learning Center
Click HERE for more information on the center and the activities taking place.
The mEducation Alliance is excited to announce that we’ve secured a long-term rental of the Eastpines Community Association building in Riverdale, Maryland to serve as the location for our first Wondrous Learning Center! At this site, we will closely work with a network of other community stakeholders to support play- and game-based educational (e.g., S.T.E.A.M.) opportunities and career-building activities for residents, particularly the high density population of refugee families in the surrounding area.
In the long-run, we hope this site will allow us to pilot-test a range of activities which can be integrated within other locations in the U.S. and globally.
Be on the lookout for additional announcements about our first Wondrous Learning Center by subscribing to the mEducation Alliance eNews or email us at medalliance@
Afghan Youth Math Game Ambassadors
- Increasing the joy of play and math for Afghan children being resettled in the United States;
- Training Afghan youth (particularly girls) to serve as math/educational game mentors and facilitators for other children in their community; and,
- Introducing a range of low-cost and quality non-tech educational games (e.g., drawn, print and play, dice, chess board games, card decks, tabletop, and more).
Events
Dialogue with Rotarians on Educational Response Efforts for Afghan Refugees – January 18, 2022
During this webinar 50+ Rotarians in District 7620 (MD, D.C., VA) discussed current and possible refugee response efforts, particularly those focused on education. Presenters included representatives from local Rotary clubs and the Lutheran Social Services National Capital Area and Homes Not Borders describing their current and planned activities. After a series of short presentations, there was Q&A to discuss areas of deepening Rotary club and member support and collaboration. Here is the recording of the discussion if you were unable to participate.
We will be convening a series of follow-up discussions (Tony is a member of Rotary Club Washington Global) with fellow Rotarians in the coming weeks.
Training of Trainers Webinar – January 20, 2022
We held the first of a series of training of trainer (ToT) webinars for Afghan mentor and youth mentees to showcase and play with a range of low-cost educational and strategy games that can be used for organizing fun and engaging in-person math game day events.
Trainers highlighted and explained a featured selection of games including those using dice, card decks, and various game boards. We also discussed how to integrate these activities into existing programs and the recruitment of and possible venues for Afghan youth to serve as math game ambassadors and participants.
Game Day with Afghan Refugees – January 22, 2022
Members of the mEducation Alliance Team (Tony, Nicole, and Peter) were thrilled to organize with the Migration and Refugee Services of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops an Ed Game afternoon for 20 Afghan refugee kids and youth (ages 7-15) in Maryland (US). The team showcased and distributed three different games that taught the kids various math skills and cognitive skills: Math Dice, SET, and Pre-Chess. It was a creative and fun afternoon filled with lots of curious minds rolling dice, selecting card sets, and learning early steps in playing chess. This training is the first of a series of math game introductions that the team will be hosting.
You can read a personal reflection on the workshop from our very own Digital Scaling Specialist, Peter Joyce, HERE for additional details and key insights.
Learning About Afghanistan & Meeting the Needs of Refugee Students
Below you can find resources for educators on how to assist refugee students, as well as learning materials for children on Afghanistan and books written by Afghan authors.
Cultivating Trust: How Educators Can Build Relationships with their Afghan Refugee Students guide (author: Zuhra Faizi, Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Graduate School of Education and Lecturer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology) found on Harvard’s Graduate School of Education REACH (Research, education, and action for refugees around the world) website.
She states, “We know educators want to know about their students’ experiences to better support them. As an Afghan-American and education researcher, I draw on my understanding of experiences of students in both Afghanistan and the US to develop a resource that can support American educators to cultivate trust and build relationships with their new students.”
Culturally & Linguistically Appropriate Services for Afghans: A Practical Handbook for Clinical & Educational Settings was developed by passionate volunteers who integrated information regarding the current resettlement of Afghan refugees in the U.S. with their real-life professional experience. Considerable time and effort have been spent to ensure accuracy. In addition, first generation Afghans in the United States reviewed this material to ensure content accuracy and cultural sensitivity. This handbook is available free of charge.
Authors: Eva P. Stitt, PhD; Freshta Taeb; and Margie Bruce-Miguel
Supported by: Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services; Virginia Refugee Healing Partnership (VRHP); and Virginia Department of Social Services
Switchboard is a one-stop resource hub for refugee service providers in the United States. With the support of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), we offer tools and materials, learning opportunities, research, and technical assistance on resettlement-related topics. The organization released a toolkit for Supporting Afghan Students in Schools & Youth Programs in the United States, which is designed to help educators to:
- Develop a well-rounded understanding of the circumstances of newly arrived Afghan students and their families, including the challenges they may face as they seek to adapt to the American education system;
- Better understand the Afghan educational systems and possible educational experiences of students;
- Name core considerations for working with Afghan students and their families;
- Adopt skills and strategies that may be helpful in working with Afghan students and families; and
- Access information and resources to support their work.
Globe Trottin’ Kids provides quality products and resources to engage kids in
- learning about world geography and cultures
- understanding and appreciating diversity in our world
- becoming kind, caring, and responsible global citizens
Globe Trottin’ Kids has a great resource page on Afghanistan where children can learn facts about the nation, access landscape photos, and explore links of cultural practices. In addition, there are children’s book recommendations on Afghanistan found at the bottom of the page.
Colorín Colorado is a bilingual site for educators and families of English language learners. On the website there is a list called Afghan Voices: Books for Children and Young Adults in which a wide range of Afghan stories and voices are brought to life. While they present a variety of themes and settings, they capture the resilience, spirit, and warmth of the Afghan people. These books can be used to support school and community discussions of current events as they develop in Afghanistan.
UNHCR has a variety of resources available for educators who will have refugee children in their classroom. Among them are guidebooks on how to include refugees in the classroom and teaching other students about refugees. You can find a a few valuable examples below.
Razia’s Ray of Hope
Razia is excited when her grandfather tells her there’s a school for girls being built in their Afghan village. At last, girls will have the same opportunity to be educated as boys. Razia knows, however, that she will need permission from her father and her oldest brother, Aziz, in order to be allowed to attend the school.
This book was written by author Elizabeth Suneby and was featured as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Book Club. Reading introduction by Razia Jan (Founder of the Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation) and reading by award-winning actress, Mia Barron.
‘Seeking Refuge’ Series – Ali’s Story
Ali and his grandmother became separated from his parents as the family attempted to flee Afghanistan when he was only a small child. In the film Ali talks about growing up and going to school in the UK – whilst for a long time not knowing whether his parents were safe.
For more stories in the series visit Animated Minds.
18 Books for Kids About the Immigrant Experience in America
Brightly has curated a list of children’s books help students understand the immigrant experience and learn about their new classmates. Brightly is a platform that provides passionate parents, educators, and caregivers with the tools they need — such as tips and advice, book recommendations, Brightly Storytime, which features read-aloud and flip along videos, and more — to keep kids connected to books through every age & stage of life. We take pride in working with a diverse group of contributors, authors, and partners who cover a wide range of topics for readers of all ages in order to cultivate a love of books and reading in children.
I’m Your Neighbor Books strives to build a stronger America, one where immigrants are welcomed and where first, second, and third generation Americans truly belong. This work is done by facilitating deep engagement with the children’s books that represent our New Arrival and New American communities. By curating, loaning, and gifting these diverse titles with educational materials, the nonprofit: 1) Starts conversations on modern immigration; 2) Refutes false narratives about communities of color; 3) Creates emotional connections to a vast diversity of voices; 4)Builds the cultural competency of all readers; and 5) Lays the groundwork for cross-cultural communication.
UnidosUS is the United State’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization. Through their work they have created the Progress Report: Defending Equal Access to Quality Education in which they cover various topics as it relates to education and the Hispanic community. They released a piece titled Education Experts Offer Ideas for Accommodating an Influx of Afghan Refugees in Predominantly Latino English Learner Classrooms. In this article, tips are given on how include these new students, a list of resources, and a personal story about an educator who is originally from Afghanistan.
Friends of Afghanistan‘s mission is to build and sustain an information exchange about Afghanistan and its people, and to network for their peace and prosperity.
Goals:
- To facilitate peaceful and constructive dialogue about Afghanistan.
- To inform members and the public about Afghanistan issues and organizations assisting the Afghan people.
- To serve as the alumni organization for Afghan RPCVs, staff and friends.
