Ecuador

Ecuador hosts a large number of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in the Latin America and the Caribbean region. Venezuelan refugee and migrant children and their families continue to face significant barriers to accessing essential services, including education. This crisis is further compounded by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and economic, political and security upheavals. Increasing violence has led to forced internal displacement and migration, suspension of in-person classes in many schools, an increase in dropout rates, and heightened risks of exploitation and abuse of children. In addition, negative effects of climate change, including those caused by the El Niño phenomenon, continue to disrupt schooling, damage infrastructure, and displace communities, further straining educational resources.

Within this context, access to education remains a challenge for refugees and migrants as well as host communities. A significant number of Venezuelan refugee and migrant children, as well as Ecuadorian displaced children and adolescents, remain completely out of school. For those attending school, learning outcomes are dropping. Lack of safety in and around schools, high rates of gender-based violence, xenophobia and discrimination, and a high prevalence of teenage pregnancy remain significant concerns. The current context of rising violence and economic difficulties has a profound impact on the wellbeing and mental health of both students and teachers, particularly on refugees, migrants, those internally displaced, and children with disabilities.

Within this context, ECW funding helps ensure access to safe, equitable, and gender-transformative education opportunities for refugee, migrant and host community children. ECW-supported programmes help preventing school dropouts and ensure children and adolescents learn the foundational and life skills they need to thrive.