Rohingya refugee crisis: EU fosters friendships to promote peace

Last updated on Friday, 27/08/2021

A new EU-backed initiative in Bangladesh is building bridges between thousands of young Rohingya refugees and local youth. The goal? Diffuse tensions and promote peace by helping them connect and discover how much they have in common.

Fleeing years of persecution and a bloody 2017 military-led crackdown in Myanmar, vast numbers of Rohingya refugees are currently seeking shelter in massive, overcrowded camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar.

Among them are many young people like you.

Faced with tough living conditions and traumatised by what they’ve been through, their future looks bleak. Complicating their plight are growing tensions with authorities and locals. 

That’s where the European Union comes in.

Together with UNICEF, the EU has launched a new peacebuilding programme bringing together 20 500 teenagers and youth from both the Rohingya and local Bangladeshi communities.

The goal?

Creating ‘social hubs’ where these young people can mingle and make friends, play sports, pick up skills, learn about conflict resolution – and realise there’s actually more that unites than divides them. 

‘I never had any Rohingya friends. But now I have one,’ said 17-year-old Samira, a young Bangladeshi participant. ‘I share my problems with her and she shares hers with me.’

Change champions

The centres are part of a EUR 3.3 million EU-funded programme to encourage teenagers to become agents of change in their communities.

‘The European Union is proud to bring young people from different backgrounds together to share experiences in a safe, supportive, learning environment,’ said Rensje Teerink, the EU’s ambassador to Bangladesh. ‘We are bridging gaps between communities and laying strong foundations for harmonious relations and social cohesion.’ 

The first centres were inaugurated in the Jamtoli and Shamlapur camps in early October 2019, with three more opening their doors since then. Watch the video here. 

Dialogue to bridge divides

The initiative also involves outreach to more than 12 000 parents, as well as both Rohingya and local Bangladeshi community and religious leaders. In addition to awareness-raising activities, the aim is to discuss social problems and – importantly – to develop solutions. 

The EU has provided over EUR 25.6 million to UNICEF since the Rohingya crisis began in August 2017. The funds have been used to support both the refugees and the communities that host them by providing water, food, education, as well as services linked to child protection and gender-based violence. 

‘The European Union is a key partner for UNICEF and we look forward to continuing this collaboration to support adolescents and young people from the Rohingya and host communities,’ said Tomoo Hozumi, UNICEF’s representative in Bangladesh. ‘Empowered young people support the development of an increasingly tolerant and inclusive society.’

Global Refugee Forum

The launch of the peacebuilding programme comes just weeks before the international community gathers in Geneva on 17 and 18 December for the first Global Refugee Forum. At its core is the Global Compact on Refugees, which calls for stepped up support for refugees and hosting countries. It also seeks to help refugees become more self-reliant so they can better shape their future.