Introduction

Each year on 20 June, World Refugee Day honors those forced to flee their homes. UNESCO reminds us that this day "reminds us of the strength, resilience and hopes of millions forced to flee" (unesco.org). In 2025 the theme is Solidarity, calling on everyone to "uphold the safety and dignity of displaced people" (unesco.org).

As the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) emphasizes, World Refugee Day "honours the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee" (unhcr.org). It shines a light on the rights, needs and dreams of refugees, mobilizing political will and resources so that they can not only survive but thrive (unhcr.org).

This newsletter issue explores the global context of refugee education and how Shalyam's mission can contribute to learning opportunities for displaced communities.

The Global Refugee Crisis and Education

Key Statistics

• 123 million forcibly displaced people worldwide (who.int)
• 47 million of them are children whose access to health, education and protection is disrupted (who.int)
• >70% of refugees are hosted in low- and middle-income countries, straining limited resources (who.int)
• Over half of the 14.8 million school-age refugee children are not in formal school (unhcr.org)

These stark figures highlight the scale of the challenge. Conflict, persecution and disaster uproot entire communities, often destroying schools and livelihoods. Yet even in crisis, education remains a lifeline.

As one UNHCR education officer puts it, "Education is a lifeline for refugee children, offering them hope, protection, and the chance to build a better future" (unhcr.org).

Quality learning – from primary to vocational skills – empowers refugees to rebuild their lives and support themselves and their host communities. UNESCO similarly stresses that education saves lives by preparing young refugees to face challenges and realize their potential.

Current Initiatives

Global scholarship programs (like the UNHCR/edX Refugee EdTech Program) are providing online pathways to higher education "from anywhere in the world" for displaced students (services.unhcr.org).

Despite these efforts, the education gap remains huge. Today half or more of refugee children have no school to go to (unhcr.org). This educational exclusion risks a "lost generation," undermining both individual futures and global development goals.

World Refugee Day reminds us that advocacy and innovation are needed to close this gap.

Digital Learning: Bridging the Divide

Innovations in technology are opening new paths. UNHCR's Refugee Connected Education Challenge (RCEC) specifically calls on partners to close the digital divide for refugee learners. The goal is to ensure "universal access to high-quality connected education for all refugees by 2030," on par with host-country nationals (unhcr.org).

Three Focus Areas

1. Content: Provide curriculum-relevant digital learning materials to all refugee learners (unhcr.org)
2. Capacity: Train teachers and students to use technology effectively, strengthening their skills and confidence (unhcr.org)
3. Connectivity: Ensure that refugee-hosting schools and communities have good internet access and devices (unhcr.org)

Success Stories

UNHCR's Instant Network Schools program (with partners like Vodafone) brings tablets and internet to classrooms in camps. In South Sudan, one 19-year-old refugee noted "The tablets have been a game-changer… They've opened up a world of knowledge" (unhcr.org).

Such initiatives have transformed thousands of lives: over 30,000 refugee students in South Sudan have benefitted from the program so far (unhcr.org).

Shalyam's Commitment

These examples show how connected learning can rewrite refugee learners' stories. Shalyam is committed to this vision of inclusive ed-tech. As we scale from our early milestone of ₹1 Cr in impact, we are building platforms and content with every learner in mind – regardless of their background.

World Refugee Day reminds us that many potential students live on the margins of society. We aim to:

• Tailor our courses and tools to be accessible even in low-bandwidth or mobile-only settings
• Collaborate with NGOs and communities in refugee areas
• Provide multilingual curricula, teacher training modules, and offline learning modes
• Align with global efforts like RCEC so that education truly knows no borders

Stories of Resilience

Across the world, displaced learners are proving how far determination and a bit of support can go.

Makbula's Story

Take Makbula Ibrahim (a fictional composite inspired by real stories): a Sudanese teen who fled conflict and arrived in a refugee camp with few school supplies. Through a digital classroom initiative, Makbula gained access to tablets and online lessons.

"Before the program, I was struggling. But with these digital tools, my grades improved dramatically"

The interactive modules sparked her passion for science and languages. She went from near the bottom of her class to consistently ranking at the top (unhcr.org). Makbula's journey echoes countless others.

With guidance and technology, refugee students become leaders: Makbula even became a school prefect after participating in leadership training through the program (unhcr.org).

As one education officer observes, "through initiatives like the Instant Network Schools, we are not only providing access to quality education but also empowering young refugees to realize their full potential" (unhcr.org).

Local Impact

Such stories remind us that refugees are not passive recipients; they are agents of their own future. In India and beyond, there are similar examples of displaced learners finding hope in education. For instance, community centers in cities often run weekend classes for asylum-seeking children, and technology helps bridge distances.

Shalyam hopes to spotlight and partner with these grassroots efforts – sharing success stories and best practices to inspire our community. When we rebuild EdTech, we must ensure it includes stories like Makbula's, so that every member of our community sees the difference our tools can make.

The Shalyam Mission: Bridging Education Gaps

Our journey "from ₹0 to ₹1 Cr" taught us that access and relevance are key. Shalyam's mission is to democratize high-quality education by leveraging technology, data, and partnerships. On this World Refugee Day, we reaffirm our commitment to that mission for everyone, including displaced populations.

Our Commitments

Curriculum Expansion: We will expand our curriculum to cover foundational skills (literacy, numeracy) and vocational training that can benefit refugee youth. This may involve new courses on basic computing, digital literacy, and host-country languages.

Platform Adaptation: We will adapt our platform for low-bandwidth and mobile use, and explore offline delivery (e.g. USB drives, community servers) for areas with poor internet.

Strategic Partnerships: We will collaborate with stakeholders – NGOs, UN agencies, local schools – to integrate Shalyam content into refugee education programs. For example, we are exploring partnerships with organizations involved in the Refugee Connected Education Challenge.

Beyond Charity: Smart Development

Our first newsletter reflected on personal drive; this issue extends that to collective responsibility. Education technology is a powerful equalizer. By bringing AI-powered tutoring, gamified learning, and community forums to displaced learners, Shalyam can help them "rebuild" their education journeys.

Our scale-up plans include dedicating a portion of our platform for social impact – offering scholarships or sponsored seats for refugee students, and developing culturally sensitive content.

We believe that investing in refugee education is not charity; it is smart development. Educated refugees can contribute skills – in medicine, teaching, engineering – to both their communities and ours. Indeed, experts note that refugees often enrich the social and economic fabric of host countries when given opportunities (who.int).

Shalyam stands ready to be part of that positive cycle.

Taking Action: Solidarity in Learning

World Refugee Day 2025 urges solidarity, and there are many ways to act together:

1. Spread Awareness

Share facts and stories (e.g. on social media) to highlight refugee learners' needs and achievements. UNHCR's resources, such as the Global Refugee Education Report (unhcr.org) and INS success stories, can inform and inspire your network.

2. Support Inclusive Policies

Advocate for education budgets and connectivity projects that include refugee-hosting communities. As UNHCR notes, prioritizing schools with refugees is essential to meet global goals (unhcr.org). Encourage policymakers and funders to adopt the RCEC principles of content, capacity, and connectivity.

3. Partner with Shalyam

We welcome investors, educators and organizations to join our mission: - Technical experts can help adapt content to displacement settings - Volunteers can mentor refugee students online - Donors can sponsor learning kits - Developers or educators can contribute to our open curriculum or tutoring platform targeted at refugees

4. Learn from Refugee Resilience

Engage with refugees in your community as students or mentors. Their entrepreneurial spirit and determination can teach us valuable lessons about adaptability and hope.

By following these steps, each of us can help refugees not just survive, but thrive – exactly the goal of World Refugee Day (unhcr.org).

Conclusion

Education is the bridge from one life to the next; on June 20 and every day, let's build that bridge together.

"On World Refugee Day, we celebrate the strength and courage of displaced learners," concludes UNESCO. "Education saves lives."

At Shalyam, we echo this commitment: empowering displaced youth through technology and solidarity.

Sources: Authoritative data and insights have been drawn from UN and NGO reports (who.int, unhcr.org), as cited above. These inform our understanding of the refugee education landscape and guide Shalyam's plans for inclusive edtech.