On December 4, dressed in his black graduation robe and hat, this young boy proudly talked in front of hundreds of parents and teachers who came to Canrom Primary School in Kiryandongo, Uganda, for the last day of school. The school is the largest in Kiryandongo, with 2,300 children from grades 1 through 6.

Graduations happen everywhere around the world. But this one was special: most of the children here are refugees from South Sudan whose families have fled the conflict over the past few months.  The Ugandan government gives families a small piece of land, food, and materials to build a house and welcomes children in its schools. 

Kiryandongo refugee settlement grew from about 5,000 refugees to close to 45,000 within two years. Thanks to the support from many partners, in particular UNHCR and UNICEF, these children will not miss out on their education despite the conflict in their country.

At the entrance of the school, a sign says: “Peace begins with me, let’s join hands to promote a peaceful environment”