Learning, Growing, Thriving

Community-Based Learning Facilities, established by Save the Children and Humanity & Inclusion, promote disability-inclusive education for young refugees in Bangladesh

By Education Cannot Wait

January 28^th, 2026

Adapted story from the field. Special contribution by Save the Children.

In Cox’s Bazar refugee camp, 14-year-old Yasmin* is slowly discovering the joys of learning and pride of independence.

Born with hearing difficulties and intellectual challenges, Yasmin struggled to perform everyday tasks and follow lessons at school, causing her mother, Tasmeen*, to worry.

“We are a family of six,” Tasmeen shares. “My husband does small jobs in the camp, and with rations, we manage every day with difficulty. My daughter has hearing issues and understands less than others. She didn’t know how to study or work, which worried me a lot. I always worried about how to live in the camp with a daughter like this, and how to settle all my children.”

Yasmin’s life began to change when Save the Children, in partnership with Humanity & Inclusion (HI), identified her needs and provided support tailored to her abilities – part of an Education Cannot Wait-funded (ECW) initiative in Bangladesh. Yasmin now attends a Community-Based Learning Facility, where teachers speak clearly and loudly, use colorful prompts and write in larger formats to help her follow lessons. HI aids her development with exercises, reading materials and guidance for teachers on how to best support Yasmin in the classroom.

Yasmin, 14, studies from her workbook. © Save the Children/Rubina Alee

In 2017, Rohingya refugees like Yasmine and her family fled violence in their homeland to seek safety in Bangladesh. Living in difficult and overcrowded conditions in Cox’s Bazar, many people were entirely dependent on humanitarian aid to survive, and little has changed. Eight years later, death and injuries from large-scale fires, flooding, and rising violence and dangerous conditions are constant threats. Unable to work or access formal education opportunities, Rohingya people living in Cox’s Bazar remain stateless and unprotected, living their lives in limbo.

“Amidst all this, we found Save the Children, and [they] arranged for my daughter's education,” Tasmeen says. Yasmin’s mom notes that her daughter’s condition has become more stable and she’s doing much better.

“She knows how to study now. She can write and read quite well. After coming home from school, she sits down to study and shows me what she has written, saying, ‘Mom, today we were taught this.’ I encourage her to study more and explain the importance of education to her.” ~Tasmeen, Yasmin’s mother

The changes are evident at home too. Yasmin now takes initiative with household chores – fetching water and preparing vegetables, tasks she could not manage before.

Yasmin and her mother, Tasmeen, smile together. © Save the Children/Katharina Glynne

Even small achievements bring immense joy to her family. With the support of HI, Yasmin can do physical exercises at home, recognizes money and objects and reads from colorful Alphabet books.

“Seeing her read makes us feel good and happy." ~Tasmeen, Yasmin’s mother

Though progress has been steady, challenges remain. As Yasmin grows older, her mother worries about her future. Still, Tasmeen remains hopeful. “My daughter is slowly improving a lot, and I hope she will be healthy,” she says.

Since Rohingya refugees started arriving in Bangladesh, ECW has supported learning opportunities for children and young people. ECW works closely with donors, UN agencies, civil society organizations, community leaders and other key stakeholders to support access to safe, holistic learning spaces. In 2022, ECW extended its Multi-Year Resilience Programme in the country. In November 2025, the Fund announced a new US$3.5 million First Emergency Response grant in the country which will restore education for 180,000 Rohingya refugee and Bangladeshi host community children.

While the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar offer temporary shelter and resources to those who have sought safety, like Yasmin and her family, refugees need urgent additional support. Many Rohingya girls and boys there still lack access to basic services such as education, healthcare, nutrition, and water and sanitation facilities.

Yasmin and her mother, Tasmeen, study from the workbook together. © Save the Children/Rubina Alee

Amid continued challenges, Yasmin’s journey shows how specialized support, inclusive education and compassionate care can transform lives. Each lesson she completes and every task she masters represents not just an educational achievement, but a step toward independence, confidence and dignity.

With the support of Save the Children and Humanity & Inclusion, Yasmin is learning, growing and reclaiming the life she deserves – a life where her challenges are met with understanding, and her potential is nurtured every day.

Yasmin and her mother, Tasmeen, look through the pages of the workbook together. © Save the Children/Rubina Alee

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Footnotes

*Name has been changed to protect identity.

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FootNotes

*Name has been changed to protect identity.