Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Conakry (Fides Service)- The Jesuit Refugee Service in Guinea reports that cuts in funding to Liberian refugees has led many young women to turn to prostitution to pay for school fees.
At the end of the school year 2004-2005 the UN High Commission for Refugees stopped funds for refugee schools in southern Guinea. The funds were used elsewhere outside refugee camps to meet development needs in Liberia. The measure was to encourage repatriation of Liberian refugees but the closing of the schools seriously concerned the institutions and the refugees.
One of the affected schools St Mary's Parish Refugee School, opened as an initiative supported by the JRS and founded by Liberian refugees. When the school was closed the parents organised a semiprivate school where families are asked to contribute 20 to 30 US dollars, besides expenses for books, uniforms etc. However girls who want to study at all costs are looking for other ways to earn money.
On April 4 a refugee whose daughters are pupils of the school told JRS staff in Guinea: “It is impossible for refugees without any income to meet these demands. Some of our girls even turn to prostitution to pay school fees. The situation is unhealthy, prostitution is seen as a way to make money fast and they unthinkingly expose themselves to risk of being infected by HIV/AIDS and other diseases”.
Again on April 4 Sr Maria Irizar, directress of JRS Guinea, said: “We are aware of this growing tendency. These refugees live in very difficult situations. Some families feel they are not yet ready to return home. But at the same time some services in camps such as secondary school have been stopped in order to concentrate funds on rebuilding projects in Liberia. Despite the good intentions behind these private schools we think the best thing for refugees is to repatriate and find schools in their places of origin”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 25/4/2006 righe 32 parole387)
