PODCASTS SERIES: "Beyond School Books"

'Beyond School Books', now in its second year, is a wide-ranging and provocative series of radio programmes on education in countries affected by conflict and natural disasters.

Each segment explores the role of education in the context of humanitarian response to conflict and post-crisis countries. The topics range from the struggle of Iraqi youths to study amidst war to how architecture is making significant strides in school construction and safety. Journalists, education specialists, young people and international figures speak on ways education can be - and has been - used to rebuild hope and foster social transformation in schools and communities. Special attention is paid to the unique experience of girls and young women in these complicated contexts.

Segments are also distributed on the Public Radio exchange for broadcasters and radio stations around the world at: http://www.prx.org/group/UNICEF

Pakistan floods and education

© UNICEF/NYHQ2010-1628/Ramoneda
A girl stands before a sprawling tent camp for people displaced by flooding, in Sukkur, a city in Pakistan's Sindh province.

By Pi James

NEW YORK, USA, 30 August 2010 – Pakistan has experienced some of the worst monsoon-related floods in history, devastating large parts of the country, wiping out towns and villages, and displacing entire communities. Millions of children have been affected, losing their homes, loved ones, and schools, leaving them vulnerable to disease and abuse.

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Supporting young people through education – International Youth Day

©UN Photo/Martine Perret. 29 July 2010
A group of men and women practice the Afro-Brazilian artform of capoeira on the beach in Dili, Timor-Leste, preparing for upcoming events such as International Youth Day, 12 August.

By Pi James

NEW YORK, USA, 12 August 2010 – According to UNICEF, nearly half of the world’s population, some three billion people, are under the age of 25, and nearly 70 percent of them live in poor nations.

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Educating Haiti’s children, six months on

© UNICEF/NYHQ2010-0750/LeMoyne
Girls from Marie Auxiliatrice Primary School smile and raise their hands to answer a question in a tent classroom set up on the grounds at another school, in the city of Jacmel, Haiti.

By Pi James

NEW YORK, USA, 12 July 2010 – Today marks the six-month anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Haiti, killing more than 220,000, displacing many more and severely affecting

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Targeting education on World Refugee Day

© UNICEF/NYHQ2009-1727/Asselin
Children attend a UNICEF-supported primary school in the town of Bazzama, Cameroon, which provides education for local children and refugee children from the Central African Republic.

By Pi James

NEW YORK, USA, 21 June 2010 – This year, World Refugee Day – which is commemorated each year on 20 June – had ‘Home’ as its theme, in recognition of the many millions of people around the world uprooted by conflict, persecution or natural disasters.

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Reporting for children – World Press Freedom Day 2010

© UNICEF/NYHQ2010-0211/Shehzad NooraniA girl smiles in a UNICEF tent school on the first day of classes in Jacquot Merlin, Haiti. In-depth media coverage of issues such as education in times of crisis can ensure the rights of children are protected.

By Pi James

NEW YORK, 3 May 2010 – Every day, despite significant risks to their safety, journalists bring stories from disasters and conflict zones to people around the world. These stories can shape the international response to humanitarian emergencies, and ultimately impact the lives of children.

To commemorate World Press Freedom Day, 3 May, podcast moderator Amy Costello spoke with three journalism practitioners from three different continents, about the media’s role in reporting on education and children in times of crisis.

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Innovating for education financing

© UNICEF/NYHQ2010-0199/Shehzad NooraniChildren return to school for the first time since the earthquake in the remote village of Jacquot Merlin, Haiti. While investments in education can take longer to realize the results, the long term benefits are enormous.

By Pi James

The global economic downturn, escalating conflicts and widespread disasters threaten to reverse advances made in the last decade in increasing enrolment and reducing the gender gap in schools around the world.

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