A Refugee Father
By Zia Hero Naing
Being a refugee and a father of a daughter, I feel very worried about this girl’s life. She was born inside the refugee camps where there is no education available for any children. Being a migrant myself, I’m not able to let her grow up with basic human rights such as the right for having a nationality, the right for an education and the right for a free movement.
As a father I feel helpless and stuck for not being able to provide her these human rights everyone else in this world enjoys. Every single daughter of the Rohingya community deserves education, protection and independence.
Asiya Bibi (3) waiting for her chance in life,
photo credit Zia Hero Naing
However, I always hope that my daughter will have a better life. I want to be a father like any other father of other communities who are pleased and are the proudest for having talented and educated children. Whenever I see my daughter’s face, I dream that she will go to school and university one day. I want to see her graduating and showing her mom and me with shining eyes her graduation certificate.
I have been carrying her on my neck and have played with her spinning her around at home so many times. Now I only want to see her happy, thanking her mom and me for all the support she got from us. I want to make her proud for having received the education she deserves. I want her to experience that education is a real friend and an eternal helper through the entire journey of life. I want her to be proud to have a father like me who was there for her always and who supported her in fulfilling her dreams.
Zia with his daughter Tokiya (2)
Tokiya is ready to discover the world
As a Rohingya and as a refugee we are restricted for education, a nationality and freedom of movement since many decades. It makes me sad and depressed to think of all Rohingya fathers like me who only want the best for their children but who are prohibited to pave the way for their children into a happy and prosperous future. I’m worried to lose my dream where I can see her flying into a bright future with a confident and shining face. I demand the right to choose freely any education available in this world, not only for my daughter but for every Rohingya. Education is a human right.
A Refugee Father
By Zia Hero Naing
Being a refugee and a father of a daughter, I feel very worried about this girl’s life. She was born inside the refugee camps where there is no education available for any children. Being a migrant myself, I’m not able to let her grow up with basic human rights such as the right for having a nationality, the right for an education and the right for a free movement.
As a father I feel helpless and stuck for not being able to provide her these human rights everyone else in this world enjoys. Every single daughter of the Rohingya community deserves education, protection and independence.
Asiya Bibi (3) waiting for her chance in life, photo credit Zia Hero Naing
However, I always hope that my daughter will have a better life. I want to be a father like any other father of other communities who are pleased and are the proudest for having talented and educated children. Whenever I see my daughter’s face, I dream that she will go to school and university one day. I want to see her graduating and showing her mom and me with shining eyes her graduation certificate.
I have been carrying her on my neck and have played with her spinning her around at home so many times. Now I only want to see her happy, thanking her mom and me for all the support she got from us. I want to make her proud for having received the education she deserves. I want her to experience that education is a real friend and an eternal helper through the entire journey of life. I want her to be proud to have a father like me who was there for her always and who supported her in fulfilling her dreams.
Zia with his daughter Tokiya (2) Tokiya is ready to discover the world
As a Rohingya and as a refugee we are restricted for education, a nationality and freedom of movement since many decades. It makes me sad and depressed to think of all Rohingya fathers like me who only want the best for their children but who are prohibited to pave the way for their children into a happy and prosperous future. I’m worried to lose my dream where I can see her flying into a bright future with a confident and shining face. I demand the right to choose freely any education available in this world, not only for my daughter but for every Rohingya. Education is a human right.
