The Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre (CRLC) is a refugee established and managed school in Indonesia which inspired a refugee-led education revolution.
In 2014, a small group of refugees knew that education is a human right and decided to start a school for their children. The men were scared to risk their ‘refugee status’, so women volunteered as teachers.
Starting in a small room, with a few books and a $200 donation, it was an instant success. Within a week there were 40 children learning, and another 40 on the waiting list.
The CRLC is entirely run by volunteer refugees and teaches over 200 students aged from 5 to 65. The approach has been followed by at least 10 other refugee-led schools and there are now over 1800 refugees receiving education at refugee-led education centres in Indonesia.
The LBW Trust’s Partnership with Cisarua
The LBW Trust’s partnership with UTS (University of Technology Sydney) supports the education of Hazara refugees in Cisarua, Indonesia, where approximately 5,000 refugees, mainly from Afghanistan, have fled persecution by the Taliban.
Since Indonesia does not offer permanent resettlement for refugees, these individuals face an uncertain future. In response, several refugee-run learning centers have emerged, providing education to over 1,200 children and 300 adults, and serving as vital community hubs.
Teachers at these centers are all volunteers, with few having formal teaching qualifications. Recognising the need for educational support, UTS academics Nina Burridge and Lucy Fiske have been working since 2016 to enhance teaching knowledge and skills. Through a partnership with The LBW Trust, UTS delivers formal training to refugee teachers, focusing on areas like adolescent development, mental health and health education. Using a train-the-trainer model, these teachers pass on their knowledge to others in their communities, ultimately benefiting around 700 children and 60 volunteer teachers.
Beyond the immediate community in Cisarua, the program also aims to develop adaptable models and materials for teaching and learning that could be applied to refugee populations globally.
2014
In 2014, a small group of refugees in Indonesia, knowing that education is a human right, and decide to start a school for their children.
2016
In 2016, UTS academics Nina Burridge and Lucy Fiske, in partnership with The LBW Trust delivers formal training to refugee teachers, focusing on areas like adolescent development, mental health and health education.
2023
In 2023 there were 18 participants (11 women and 7 men) in the UTS-LBW Trust Teacher Training program in Indonesia, from four learning centres.
Dive deeper into The LBW Trust’s support for Cisarua
2024: Resilience and Growth in UTS-LBW Refugee Education
The UTS-LBW Trust Refugee Teacher Training Program trains refugee educators in Indonesia, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Cisarua’s Refugee Teachers: A Step Toward Educational Equity
In 2023, Dr. Nina Burridge, Dr. Miriam Faine and Dr. Richard Walker visited refugee learning centers in Cisarua, Bogor, Indonesia,
