Children & Young People during COVID-19: How were they impacted & what we can learn for the future?

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. In response, governments closed schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 1.6 billion learners across 169 countries were impacted by school closures and 1.3 billion learners had no internet connection at home and no devices to learn on.

The Alliance, with support of the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies, conducted participatory research to explore the impact of COVID-19 related school closures on children and young people in three humanitarian settings: Lebanon, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Colombia.

We asked children and young people to share about their experience during school closures related to COVID-19, as well as ‘what are your key message for leaders and decision-makers’? Ethical and child safeguarding protocols have been closely followed, including consent for children and young people to participate in the video. Some children and young people chose a pseudonym.

Decision-makers, leaders, and humanitarian actors, what are YOU going to do?

All illustrations done by Sophie Le Hire.

*To watch the full-length video from Children and Young People, click here: https://youtu.be/RlO-Tq2Cxqs