In a middle school class at the Cisarua Refugee Learning Center in Indonesia, students are exploring planetary science topics, from Jupiter’s gases to Mercury’s exosphere. This might seem ordinary, but it’s remarkable because these students are refugees.
One of them is Afnaan Guleid, a 13-year-old from Somalia. Back home, her family feared violence, but now she can focus on her dream of becoming a scientist. Her aspirations for the future fill the room with hope. “I want to be a scientist because I love experiments and discovering things,” she said.,
Afnaan is one of 85 students from Africa and Asia studying at the center, which offers an entirely English curriculum. This year, qualified students can work toward an American high school diploma through an online program. Massoud Azimi, 15, from Afghanistan, is one of them. His family will soon be resettled in the United States. “The programs here are helping me prepare for school in America,” he said.
Cisarua, a town a few hours from Jakarta, has become a hub for refugees, with about 1,300 living there due to its milder climate and lower cost of living. Most hope to be resettled in countries like the U.S., Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, though the process takes at least seven years.
The center helps students focus on English, which is essential for resettlement. “We are preparing them for the next country they will go to,” said Reza Hussaini, the principal and a refugee from Afghanistan. The center also offers adult English classes and is funded by private donations. Many teachers are volunteers and refugees, like a 39-year-old man from Myanmar who fled conscription and now teaches computer and math classes.
Started ten years ago, the Cisarua Refugee Learning Center is a model for similar programs across Indonesia. “All refugees deserve a chance to prepare for their futures,” Hussaini said.
