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EU-Funded Legal Assistance Allows Children at Bani Fatini Camp to have a Future

Students learning in Moza District, Taiz Governorate

In the far west of Taiz Governorate, in Mawza District (Yemen), Bani Fatini Camp became home to 102 displaced families who have been forced to flee their homes due to the conflict that started in 2015. Alongside the profound sense of loss and the struggle to rebuild their lives, the absence of access to education emerged as one of the greatest challenges facing their children. With no nearby schools, the future of 120 boys and girls was placed at serious risk.

Under severe economic pressure, some families had no choice but to send their children to work in dangerous environments near minefields and military sites. Meanwhile, girls were forced to walk long distances to collect water, exposing all children to daily risks that threatened both their safety and their hopes for the future.

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) regularly monitored the sites through focus group discussions, key informant interviews and household surveys. The findings of these assessments showed an urgent need to intervene to mitigate child protection risks and ensure children's right to education. DRC monitors conducted referrals to child protection actors, following the consent of the caregivers and the children, and they activated advocacy mechanisms, holding meetings with the camp's executive unit director in Mawza and with the organisation "War Child".

Thanks to their advocacy efforts, an educational tent was established by War Child to accommodate all the children in the camp. However, the challenge remained in equipping it with the necessary supplies. To address this, the team referred the children to the organisation "Pasmh for Humanitarian Action," which committed to providing school bags and official uniforms for both boys and girls, as well as clothing support for some of the most vulnerable families.

In parallel, between July and December 2025, DRC’s Legal Team worked to issue 88 birth certificates for previously unregistered children, as well as identification cards for 95 families, thanks to the EU humanitarian support. This legal assistance removed critical administrative barriers, enabling children to enroll in school and access their right to education.

Ahmed, Director of the Executive Unit at Bani Fatini Camp, recalls:
“Children aged 8 to 13 were completely deprived of education, and most could neither read nor write. Before any organisational support, we partnered with volunteer teachers to launch a small learning initiative using our limited resources, driven by our belief in education’s power to build an aware and resilient generation.

Later, the Danish Refugee Council, which referred us to humanitarian organisations that provided a tent and school supplies. The children began learning basic literacy skills, and more parents enrolled their children. As a result, student numbers grew from 15 to 60.”

Sawsan, a volunteer teacher, explains that teaching in the camp was an immense challenge due to the absence of schools and basic facilities. Yet, she found deep fulfillment in working with the children:
“I consider my students like my children. Seeing their progress gives me great strength and satisfaction.”

Sawsan also stresses the ongoing need for learning materials and incentives for volunteer teachers to ensure the continuity of education.

Education has given me happiness and confidence. I have learned new things and can now read and write. I dream of becoming a doctor one day, and I encourage everyone to go to school.

Nawafil, 11, one of the students

Today, the lives of children in Bani Fatini Camp have changed profoundly. They now sit in classrooms with renewed hope for the future. This intervention has demonstrated that integrated humanitarian action—from assessment and advocacy to referrals and direct support—can protect children’s rights, preserve their dignity, and help build an educated generation capable of facing life’s challenges.

Despite these efforts, some children remain unable to attend school because they must work to support their families. Schools continue to face shortages of buildings and basic facilities, as well as a lack of uniforms, notebooks, and incentives for volunteer teachers. Ongoing economic hardship further exacerbates the struggles of both children and educators, threatening the sustainability of education. Continued support from relevant stakeholders remains essential to ensure every child’s right to learn and to build a better future.

Restoring legal identity is a critical first step toward dignity. With funding from EU Humanitarian Aid , DRC—through the YDR Consortium—supported 957 children to obtain birth certificates and 882 individuals to secure national IDs in Mocha and Mawza districts, Taiz governorate. These essential documents serve as a lifeline, enabling displaced families to safely access basic services, register for food assistance, and enroll their children in school after years of uncertainty.