Did you know that 42% of people uprooted by hatred and violence worldwide are children? Did you know that 48% of refugee children do not have access to education? Source: United Nations One of the consistent concerns we hear from refugees and asylum seekers is that their children are falling behind in their education. In many cases, uprooted children do not have feasible access to education, and those who do often find the quality is lacking. Many factors contribute to a poorer-quality education for displaced children, such as overcrowded and under-resourced classrooms, a shortage of well-trained teachers, and a lack of textbooks and basic materials such as pencils and paper. Displaced parents fear how this will impact their children’s future. The need to create solutions to overcome these challenges is obvious. IAFR has responded to this need globally through consulting services and trainings offered both remotely and on-site. Our consultant travels to a variety of locations as requested, including refugee camps, neighborhood schools, and humanitarian workspaces.

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Our Mission

We help refugee children and youth survive and recover from forced displacement by finding solutions that increase their access to quality education.

Our Consultant

Whitney Gerdes serves as our Refugee Education Specialist (RES). As the RES, Whitney helps identify gaps in education and resources, recommends solutions, and assists with the implementation of initiatives specifically developed to improve the accessibility and quality of education for refugees and asylum seekers.

Based in Vienna, Austria, Whitney serves our IAFR ministry locations as well as other like-minded organizations, churches, and individuals serving refugees and asylum seekers.

Whitney has extensive experience as a classroom teacher, principal, and guidance counselor in various educational settings. As a life-long teacher, Whitney has seen firsthand how education can provide solid ground—through cognitive development and healing relationships—for displaced children and youth.

Whitney offers on-site consultation and training specifically tailored to each context. She begins each visit with observation; post-training follow-up can also be arranged. Training topics include:

Trauma and the Brain
How Trauma Affects Learning
The Role of the Educator
Trauma-Informed Classroom Management Strategies
Teaching Resilience
Whole Person Wellness for the Teacher/Humanitarian Worker

We’ve developed a global perspective on refugee education through trainings and consultations in a variety of locations (displayed below), and we are always open to training in new contexts! Please reach out to discuss the possibility of a training or consultation in your location.