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An educational haven for migrant children in France

An educational haven for migrant children in France

Afghanistan, Syria, Nigeria, Congo, Albania, Chechnya, Iran, Angola, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone… The Asylum Seekers Reception Centre (Cada) in Bussières-et-Pruns is permanently occupied by a hundred or so people waiting for a response to their asylum application in France. Over a quarter of them are children, the majority of whom do not speak French. 

Schooling is therefore a key issue for their integration, development, and well-being. The school that welcomes them is 2.5km from the centre. Far from disrupting the functioning of the institution, the regular arrival of these new pupils has made it possible to keep open classes that were threatened with closure due to under-staffing. Cada has developed very strong links with the teaching staff who provide quality care from nursery to secondary school. A dozen teachers take part in meetings outside working hours, “a crucial commitment”, highlights Cada. The school also opens its doors to assist pupils with particular situations. Volunteers help them with homework and meetings are held to motivate parents, with the help of interpreters. 

Cada is fully aware of the trauma experienced by these children and as such it aims to protect and focus on their development. It organises trips to parks, games, weekly outings, fairs, picnics with children and parents in the area, small holiday stays, and so on. This fun and inclusive environment helps to establish bonds and a climate of safety and well-being, promoting key learning for uprooted young people. The issue is all the more important as the authorities have stepped up the processing of asylum applications; it is therefore not uncommon for students to have to leave the centre before the end of the school year. For the children, this abrupt departure is often experienced as yet another shock in their already chaotic lives. In addition to support for integration into school, Cada must also anticipate the premature removal of children from this educational haven.