Today, as the world marks World Refugee Day, we at Refugee Youth Changemakers (RYCM) stand in solidarity with millions of displaced people across East Africa and beyond—especially the children who make up the majority of those forced to flee.

In East Africa, over 6 million people have been uprooted by conflict, persecution, and climate-related crises. Rwanda, our host country, shelters nearly 130,000 refugees, many of them from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. For these young people, access to quality education remains a distant dream. In fact, more than 45% of refugee children in Rwanda are out of school. Those lucky enough to attend classes face severe challenges—overcrowded classrooms, limited materials, and under-resourced teachers.

At RYCM, we believe that education is not just a basic right—it’s a foundation for rebuilding lives and communities. Yet year after year, refugee education remains underfunded and under-prioritized. Peace stalks are too slow to bear fruit—and while the world waits, an entire generation risks being left behind.