A pedagogic view of the refugee children
Normally we share content through the viewpoints of the inhabitants of the refugee center and pass the information to you in a way to emphasize how the refugees can be supported. Now, we would like you to get to know the helpers viewpoint better.
Mrs. Ervinné Kelemen is a part-time colleague of the Dorcas Ministries Foundation who joined us in March, following the eruption of the war. She works as a kindergarten teacher and here in the refugee center she holds keeping-up lessons for minors. The small students call her "Miss Andi" and they grew to like the teacher quite a lot even during this short period of time.
What is your experience with the younglings living here?
In these few months I spent here with the kids I experienced that they are extremely open. They overly enjoy singing and they also indulge themselves in activities involving motion and in crafts with great happiness. Above these they also like to engage themselves with the toys placed in the community room.
During the activities and lessons do they tell you about their school experiences of home?
Yes. I noticed how they like to talk and express their opinions. They openly explain about their lives at home, the school experiences, and how the education system was back there. Among their old memories they also welcomely share with me any experience and events that they came across here, in the Refugee Center.
How do you see, due to the activities, what changes can be available for them?
These group activities are of course greatly impacting their development. The children living here are quick learners and they are open to all sorts of new things. In the school catch-up program which was started just recently I am preparing my class for school. We are the yellow team. Throughout the activity they raise their hands and actively participate which proves that this type of education is incredibly required. Even after this period of time the development is already noticeable. Due to the crafts activities their fine motor skills, their holding of the pencil can be improved. Furthermore, these group activities greatly enhance their miscellaneous skills as well. For instance, the ability to concentrate, splitting attention or monotony endurance.
"The children are very easy-going. Not only with others of their age but they can easily find the common tune with the adults as well. They are interested in everything, they ask, they ponder. We could get synced on each other fast."
What do you think, how can these students be motivated to study?
During study they greatly need to be given feedback. Giving praise, appreciative words and honesty, openness. Throughout the activities I consider playfulness and joyful experience collection to be very important. I think that through games they can be involved into learning. Whatever card or little reward they receive they can be overly joyful for that. I think they can be easily motivated.
Since they come from an environment with low stimuli, the atmosphere here is a lot more vivid, more interactive and more interesting for them.
Do you ever get feedback from the parents or kids?
On the activities when the kids see me, they already run to me, and they hug me. They hold my hand and wait to go play together. This is quite a heartwarming feeling, that I can bring such joy into the lives of these refugee children. But not only them, I myself gained a plethora of happy moments throughout this time we have spent together.