UNICEF and UNESCO support the continuation of the education process in flood affected communities

UNICEF and UNESCO donated 44 laptops to primary schools in the communities affected by the recent floods to make it easier for children and teachers to conduct online classes as long as they are unable to go to school. Laptops, headphones, as well as phone cards for the 4G network, which were donated by the BH Telecom company to allow the children to attend online classes, were distributed to elementary schools in Seonica and Parsovići, 'Suljo Čilić' Elementary School in Jablanica, and 'Drežnica' Elementary School in Donja Drežnica.

"There used to be houses here, there is nothing now,"Zijad Halilović, the 'Seonica' Elementary School Principal, tells us, pointing at a huge area in Buturović Polje near Konjic, where during the night from 3 to 4 October a strong water surge swept through washing away complete houses, cars, trees, and sadly taking lives. Excavators are now removing remains of the houses, trees, cars and everything that was carried away by the torrent that night.

The school in Seonica did not suffer major damage, and as the School Principal tells us, while a crack in one of the underpinning walls is being inspected, an assessment will be conducted to decide whether it is safe for the children to go to back to school, or otherwise continue with online classes organised shortly after the floods. Children have mostly used their mobile phones for online classes, which made the teaching process much more difficult for them.

Many children lost their homes, or their homes were severely damaged, while many roads were damaged or road transport was partially interrupted, which may make it difficult for children to go to school even after regular classes resume. Prevented from returning to their destroyed homes, many children are currently staying in a temporary accommodation and with relatives, so their access to online classes during this period is essential.

Asja and her mother Lejla used to live in Buturović Polje where they had a house. They are currently staying with their relatives in a nearby town."Although I am staying in another town, this arrangement enables me to continue attending classes in my own school, with my teachers and friends. Until now, they have sent us assignments to our mobile phones, we had to rewrite the content in our notebooks and study from there. It will be much easier now with this computer",Asja, a student in the eighth grade, tells us. A laptop will also make it easier for her friend Suana here to follow classes. Suana's mother Admira says that they are currently staying in an alternative accommodation. "We lost everything, everything was destroyed, and we are currently staying with neighbours where things are better. Suana has used her mobile phone for online classes. It has been difficult for them, because they have to rewrite everything they had done before since everything was swept away, and now it will be easier for her with a computer".

Inas is also an eighth grader, and he says that it was difficult for him to follow online classes using his phone. Father Bećir says that he is glad that this will make it more easy-going for Inas."We survived, that's what matters most. I have another son, now this computer will come in handy, because they cannot go to school yet, the roads are in a bad shape and unsafe".

School Principal Zijad Halilović says that after the natural disaster that had hit them, they were forced to quickly switch to online classes:"Most students have joined the classes, and I hope that we will soon be able to include a few other students who moved elsewhere. They will receive the equipment, as well as all others who need it, so that the teaching process can continue smoothly. Many of them remained here, while some have moved to the areas of Konjic and Mostar, or are staying with neighbours, relatives, in cottages and other accommodations. It has come to my attention that many of those whose houses remained intact are concerned over potential landslides, and worried about the coming winter season. With our efforts and donated equipment, we will do our best to keep our students together."

In the nearby Parsovići village, Rabija, a student in the ninth grade, came to school with her friends to pick up a laptop:"Everything is fine at home, but the road was destroyed and the major problem is that currently we are not able to go to school because we don't have transportation. I do not have internet connection at home, I use the 4G network I have on my phone, now we also got cards, and the computer will now make school work and studying less complicated for me, my brother and sister",Rabija says. Lejla from the fourth grade, and first grader Ali who came with his father Muharem are also excited about the laptop they received.

"We are a small community and our school is small, and this is a big and important donation for us. We are delighted and extremely grateful, and for now we do not need anything more in terms of electronic equipment. With this, we will connect our students, establish a robust and high-quality communication",Ferid Perva, Principal of Elementary School 'Parsovići' says, and School Pedagogue Nihada Kurtović adds that despite the adversity of the situation, they have been trying to return to their regular duties."They started rebuilding the roads, but nothing works as it should. Most children do not have laptops at home and this is huge for them. Today's event brought us and the children together, it is an opportunity to see each other after everything, to everyone's satisfaction, and I do hope that soon we will all be back to school on a regular basis."

According to the School Principal, the laptops donated to the Elementary School 'Suljo Čilić' in Jablanica will be used by students from flooded areas who lost most of their assets during the floods, mainly from Donja Jablanica and the place Mirci, which were among the hardest hit by the recent floods."The donation is therefore very important and will be instrumental not only for online classes, but also in daily school activities in the future. It will enable the school to maintain contact with those who may have been displaced."

Amna is in the sixth grade, she used to live in Donja Jablanica with her younger sister and mother Mersiha."Without a computer, we had no access to online classes, I hope that now it will be easier for them to get study materials as soon as possible and catch up on what they have missed,"Mersiha says. Eldar from the seventh grade came to get a laptop with his father Adil. They also used to live in Donja Jablanica."For the time being, while waiting for containers, we are staying with children, relatives, friends. Any help is welcome and we are grateful, we used to have it all. But a human hand and kind word have been the greatest comfort. When a friend calls, it is the ultimate reward for me,"Adil says.

Most of the parents from Donja Jablanica who came with their children to get laptops emphasise that on top of much needed material assistance, they need psychological support:"We are in fear, we don't sleep at night, we need someone to help us, to talk to us, I made an appointment with a psychologist for my daughter on Thursday through the Centre for Mental Health,"one of the mothers says.

Laptops were also donated to 'Drežnica' Elementary School in Donja Drežnica. Mirza, Ela and Emila say that they will make their attendance of classes much less challenging, especially since the road which leads to the school is currently unstable:"We were cut off, it was terrible, the cars could not get through at all. Getting to school is more difficult for us because of damages on the road and everything that happened, but it is possible to get there. Now, even if we are not able to go to school because of weather conditions, we have a laptop and we will be able to follow the classes".

Elementary School 'Drežnica' Principal Fatima Lalić, says that, according to some estimates, the coming winter may make the teaching process much more challenging."Due to specific features of the terrain in Rogobrdo and Perutac communities, there is a concern that there will be days in the coming winter when children will not be able to attend regular classes. Online teaching is an alternative solution in such situations, and that is what makes the IT equipment they received today meaningful. Currently, children from these communities are able to come to school, but the question is for how long, because the whole road is in danger of caving in. Access is enabled, but it is not yet an adequate solution during a rainy season and with potential snowfalls."

HNC Assistant Minister of Education Sudo Marić also attended the event at which laptops were donated to schools in Jablanica and Donja Drežnica:"The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the partners who came forward on their own initiative, UNESCO, UNICEF and some others, and offered assistance to affected people in this area. The assistance came very quickly, and computers were distributed to children who were cut off from school. UNICEF also started another effort through the company BH Telecom, focusing on the improvement of internet connectivity and strengthening of base stations, which was also done. With these arrangements in place classes can resume. As for other things, they will require support of other systems."