More than 41,000 children are singing, learning and playing in our 234 child-friendly spaces and 365 learning centres in the camps and in Ukhiya and Teknaf. These spaces are safe, colourful places for children to be children. Our para-counsellors provide them with psychosocial support to help them deal with trauma.
Mohammad Ayaas, 12 years
Cox’s Bazar
I came from Myanmar on a boat full of strangers. No one held my hand and no one told me what to do. My father and mother were killed. I got separated from my sisters and brothers. I have not heard from them since I reached Bangladesh. At first I did not know what to do or even what had happened. I still do not understand. I don’t have my parents but I do have Rafiq majhi. He is the one who takes care of me. He is my father now. I also have a new mother. They love me like my parents used to.
I think about my parents a lot. I don’t have any pictures of them but I remember their faces. I also have my friend – Nabi. He is like my brother.
Ayas and Nabi
I love coming to the child-friendly space. I play football with Nabi. We also love playing carom. Nabi is really good to me. I taught him how to play. We share everything together. Sometimes, we get biscuits and share them with each other. I do not want to stay here forever though. I want to go to Saudi Arabia and build big, tall buildings – so I am learning English and math.
Before coming to Bangladesh, I had never thought about Saudi Arabia. After I came here I heard people talk about how good life can be when one works there and began thinking about it.