Education in a Time of Coronavirus
Elizabeth Pennington is Communications Officer for Yesterday – Today - Tomorrow and a freelance Journalist. She plans to study a Masters Degree in International Development next year, with a focus on Education in Emergencies and War Crime.
*Names have been changed to protect the individuals’ identities.
When the first COVID-19 cases were announced last year, few expected such a Tsunami-like wave to follow. Now, almost ten months on, with approximately 30 million cases worldwide, and rising, in a WHO declared Pandemic, it is crucial that we do not ignore one of the most pressing global issues: children’s access to education.
In a recent campaign, Keeping Girls in the Picture, led by UNESCO, the pandemic could mean almost 11 million girls may never return to education. This places them at even greater risk of early child marriage and gender violence.
As the Communications Officer for a Global Education NGO, Yesterday- Today-Tomorrow (YTT), based in Paris, our team have seen firsthand the impact losing education has on a child’s well-being. Collectively, we have worked in over 40 refugee/migrant camps, centres and squats in over ten countries in Europe and North Africa, with hopes to expand further into conflict areas, where girls are at particular risk.
Since 2016, our research has led us to develop a Learning through Art & Theatre Approach focusing in two key areas: working in and for child/ youth populations in emergency situations, designing psychosocial support, children’s-rights and peace/capacity building programs and working within the formal school structure, were our programs promote inclusion, diversity and the reduction of prejudice/racism for children and teachers. These programs, in line with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, are adaptable to the local needs of the refugee, migrant and/or displaced populations.
Through our psychosocial support workshops, participants are invited to draw their past (Yesterday), their present (Today) and their future lives (Tomorrow). These drawings, collected from thousands of individuals since 2016, aged between 2-70 years old, have allowed us to create our visual database, sharing their stories, irrespective of one’s spoken language.
Our organisation’s Founder, Bryan Mc Cormack said: “With COVID, it is the most fragile populations that are the most affected. (...) Refugee education is or at least should be a priority for the world for the simple reason that having over 70 million refugee/displaced persons, the majority of whom are children, means that we are talking about an enormous percentage of humanity. (...) humanity is everyone’s responsibility.”
Reflecting on the educational impact, I am reminded of a 14 year old Afghan refugee, Amal* who we met in Serbia in 2018. Now 16 and in Germany, she wants to become an author. Through her drawing, she explained how she uses her love of learning to block negativity in her life.
Or Malek*, a nine-year-old Iraqi-Kurdistan refugee, too young to fully understand her trauma, yet articulate enough to explain how she returned from Church to find her family decapitated by ISIS, their bodies hung from a hook on the tree in the garden of their Mosul home.
Now 11 and fluent in four languages, Malek wants to become a doctor, win a Nobel Peace Prize and help her community recover after ISIS occupation.
Malek, like so many young refugees I have met, is not allowing their past to define their future.
As a human right, every child must have the opportunity to engage in education. I believe that education changes lives and saves lives. There is still a grave misunderstanding about who refugees are. At Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow, I hope we can be a small part of the larger conversation on inclusive education for refugee and migrant children and for education in emergencies worldwide.
Elizabeth Pennington • March 17, 2021
In our continued commitment to ensuring quality and inclusive education for every child, we’ve taken our advocacy to a new level by empowering the next generation to lead the conversation. In partnership with The Gambia Teachers Union, we recently convened the Foundation’s Young Ambassadors for a vibrant day of engagement dedicated to promoting the right to education for all. The event brought together passionate students from selected senior secondary schools across Region One, including St. John’s School for the Deaf, to explore what it truly means to make education inclusive, equitable, and accessible to every learner.
The Steve Sinnott Foundation is proud to celebrate the inspirational winners of the 2025 Seeds of Hope for a Better Future competition, a global initiative supported by UNESCO that brings together creativity, community, and a shared commitment to peace and sustainability. This unique project invited schools across the world from nursery and primary through to secondary and high school to explore the values of peace, cultural understanding, and care for the planet. In the face of climate change, young people were asked to tell their stories through art, performance, and digital creativity, highlighting how small seeds of action can grow into powerful movements for hope. The results have been extraordinary. Schools in France, the UK, Gambia, Haiti, and Kenya have been recognised for their outstanding contributions, with projects ranging from community gardens and sculptures to dance performances and illustrated stories. Each winner has shown how young voices and imagination can nurture peace and sustainability in ways that inspire us all. The full Awards Ceremony can be watched linked here: S eeds of Hope For A Better Future Awards Ceremony 2025 Highlights from the Winners Oak View Primary and Nursery School (UK) created Faces of Feeling, a collection of joyful sculptures already exhibited in a local gallery. Judges praised their work as supporting the wellbeing of others and embodying the idea of children as true “Seeds of Hope.” St Joseph’s Senior Secondary School (Gambia) painted Campaign for a Sustainable Banjul , reflecting real-world climate action in their city. The judges described it as “a most deserving and robust winner.” In France , the Jardin d'Enfants des Nations Unies (United Nations Nursery School) won hearts with Wind of Peace , where 5-6 year olds combined drawings, paintings, and tree planting to champion reforestation. Lyng Hall Secondary School, Coventry (UK) collaborated with Henley Green Primary and the UK Literacy Association to produce The Heart Shaped Hole – an innovative and metaphorical take on Seeds of Hope. Earlsdon Primary School, Coventry (UK) impressed with Primary Plot , a project that included gardening with the visually impaired, reflecting inclusivity and sustainability. A remarkable cross-collaboration between 21 schools across West Yorkshire, Essex, and Tower Hamlets (UK) resulted in Lights, Camera, Score , an ambitious combination of animation, music, and storytelling. CIMA Community School of Hope, Haiti shared Konbit - a video of dance and solidarity, inspiring villages to work together for peace and dignity. Daraja Academy, Kenya presented an ambitious and optimistic project integrating sustainability into everyday school life. Celebrating Creativity and Peace This year’s competition was judged by an impressive panel of artists, writers, and cultural leaders including Sir Antony Gormley, Edmund de Waal, Dame Liz Forgan, Hugh Quarshie, and Rathna Ramanathan. Their collective expertise highlighted the quality and depth of the entries, each of which showed how art can be a powerful tool for global understanding and change. The Seeds of Hope initiative is part of UNESCO UK’s Arts and Culture for Peace programme, first launched in 2022. It has grown from earlier collaborations such as the Coventry Young Ambassadors’ Islands of Peace Japanese Garden , opened in 2021 a living reminder that seeds planted in communities can continue to flourish. Highlights from the ceremony can be found here at this playlist Looking Ahead As Ann Beatty, UNESCO ASPnet UK National Coordinator , shared: “The quality of entries was extraordinary. We are delighted at the response to this amazing initiative in collaboration with our international partners.” And in the words of judge Jannette Cheong : “Young people around the world understand well the value of peace and tolerant relationships between cultures. Their creativity is an inspiration to all of us.” At The Steve Sinnott Foundation, we believe that education is the seed from which hope grows. The Seeds of Hope competition is a shining example of how young people through creativity, compassion, and collaboration are already shaping a more peaceful and sustainable future. You can access the full online awards presentation here: Seeds of Hope For A Better Future Awards Ceremony 2025
The journey to strengthen the well-being and success of learners in The Gambia continues with a renewed commitment to guidance and counselling in schools. By August 14th 2025, we have successfully trained 140 educators across 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑 & 𝟒 under our Guidance & Counselling Programme. A programme designed to equip educators with the skills to support students’ academic, social, and emotional development. Region 3 Teachers Complete Level 2 Training On Wednesday, 6th August, thirty teachers from Region 3 (North Bank Region) began a three-day Level 2 Guidance and Counselling training at the Christian Council in Kanifing. This programme built on their earlier Level 1 training in Farafenni, with a focus on deepening their capacity to serve as school-based counsellors. The training concluded with a certificate presentation ceremony, recognising the teachers’ commitment and marking an important step in their professional development. These certificates symbolize more than an achievement; they represent each teacher’s readiness to provide psychosocial support, guidance, and mentorship to learners across their schools.
