The Journey for Education

French son of refugee running across the United States to benefit UNHCR and refugee children

Andre Belibi Eloumou, a 33 year-old Frenchman from Cherbourg, France, is two months into his five month journey across the United States. He passed through northern Carbon County February 6-9.

His trek across the country is aimed to raise awareness and funds for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), specifically how they educate displaced children who left home because of conflicts in their home country.

"I'm doing this to promote the UNHCR as they help build classrooms and build schools to give access to education for children refugees," Eloumou said. 

He started on November 1, 2019 from Brooklyn, New York. His goal is to reach Santa Monica, California on March 7.

Eloumou said when he decided to do this journey, he was told by many that he was crossing the West at the worst time of year as far as weather went. He was undaunted but admits when he was going through Topeka, it was excellent fortune that Phil Skow came into his life on December 27.

Skow and his wife met Eloumou when he came through town and spoke to a school about what he was trying to accomplish.

"Andre was inspiring," Skow said. "He told us it was better to fail at something you love, than not do it at all. Andre makes you think and his message of, 'go for your dream', made me want to help."

Skow offered to follow Eloumou in his van to make sure the runner had a safe trip to California.

"I am Sam to Andre's Frodo," Skow joked. "Andre is really humble as he chases this dream to help others. He didn't ask for my help but he is inspiring. Andre says it is not the destination but the journey to chase your dreams."

Skow follows Eloumou as he runs his 40 to 50 miles a day. They entered Wyoming by way of Laramie from Colorado on February 2. He spoke in the college town and then headed down US 30 which found him in the town of Hanna on February 6. He stopped in the local grocery store and met residents who were interested in learning his story.

After Eloumou spoke of his journey to Carbon County residents at the high school in Hanna, he and Skow were offered shelter for a couple days by the Hobbes family in Elk Mountain. The winds and snow made their offer attractive and the journey was paused for a day.

Eloumou still ran his 40 miles while in Elk Mountain, but he didn't leave the community. While in Elk Mountain, he talked at the elementary school. The weather had forced all staff and students who went to Hanna to be there and Eloumou had now told two groups of northern Carbon County residents of what he was doing.

He explained the journey was a tribute to his father. Eloumou, is the son of a Cameroon immigrant who moved to France in the 1970s.

"My father believed in education, family values and contributing to the good of the earth," Eloumou said. "He inspired me to dream and do things that I love, no matter the obstacles."

Eloumou traveled much in his youth. He went to Cameroon to visit the homeland of his father from age 13 to 16. He came to Salt Lake City at 16 and fell in love with the area. Deciding to get his education in North America, he went to live with his aunt in Calgary. Eloumou stayed with her and learned English and got certified as a physical trainer. He traveled the world living in North America, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and had a job on a cruise ship.

Knowing his father came to France with almost nothing, but had a desire to be educated and adapt to his new home, Eloumou decided to honor his father by doing this run across the United States to raise awareness of how difficult it was for refugee children to get an education.

"My father always told me, education is the most powerful tool," Eloumou said. "This race is dedicated to my dad and on the bigger scale to human immigration. My father's journey from Cameroon to France took three years in the early 70's."

Eloumou said his run requires similar determination and faith, but he believes in helping children who are caught in a situation not of their own making. This is why helping UNHCR is important to him.

The office of the UNHCR was created in 1950, in the aftermath of World War II, to help millions of civilians who were displaced. The organization had three years to complete its mission and then it was supposed to disband. That didn't happen and 70 years later, the organization is still helping refugees all over the world.

The primary purpose at UNHCR is to safeguard the rights and well-being of people who have been forced to flee conflicts and help refugees find safe haven in another country. UNHCR has helped millions of people to restart their lives.

Unfortunately, while waiting to be resettled, 3.7 million refugee children are out of school according to UNHCR. The organization supports a range of education programs, designed in close consultation with the young refugee population itself. There are accelerated education programs to promote access to certified education for children and adolescents who have missed out on substantial amounts of schooling. There has been improved quality of education through digital technology, relevant technical and vocational training. Then there are basic literacy and life skills courses.

Eloumou knows that it takes money to keep these programs going and he wanted to be a part of raising funds for this worthy cause.

"Sometimes you hear that money is bad, but it isn't. It is what you do with it," Eloumou said. "Fund raising money for this is a good thing."

More than half of the world's 25.4 million refugees are under the age of 18. The close to 4 million refugee children out of school concerns Eloumou. The UNHCR gives data that, at the primary school level globally, 91 percent of children attend primary school. For refugees, that figure is 63 percent and, in low income countries, it is less than 50 percent.

He said technology is helping with educating refugee children.

The Instant Network Schools (INS) program is an example.

Selected schools and community centers are outfitted with a 'digital box' that includes a set of computer tablets, solar-powered batteries, a satellite or mobile network, and a suite of content and online learning material. Each INS is run by a local coach who provides in-service training and support for students and teachers. Daily logs of INS use are recorded and uploaded to a global platform which helps to track utilization, flag challenges and identify areas that need improvement.

Eloumou is encouraged that progress is being made, but he knows the world has many trouble spots and displaced children's education can be collateral damage.

He said he learned from his father that the road to recovering a sense of purpose and dignity after the trauma of displacement can be solved by education.

The recent UNHCR report on refugees and education had refugee enrollment in primary school up from 61 to 63 percent, while secondary level enrollment rose from 23 to 24 per cent. These percentages seem small, but in fact represent tens of thousands of students.

Eloumou has been learning himself on this journey. He was told when he first started his run, because he was a black man, there was a strong chance he would face hostility in small towns going across the country. He said the opposite has happened.

"The stereotypes aren't true," Eloumou said. "People have been nice and welcoming, especially in the small towns. To me, intolerance is ignorance and ignorance is a lack of education and respect."

He doesn't talk politics in his travels because his mission is above it. Eloumou feels that by informing people of the plight of refugee children, he is giving all a chance to see that education is the most powerful tool on earth and they can help.

Eloumou is positive he will reach Santa Monica by his timeline.

He thanks all those that have helped him on the journey and hopes his run will give attention to an excellent cause.

He is utilizing social media on his trek. His website is andrerunusa.com where he gives almost daily reports. His Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and You Tube accounts are also under the name andrerunusa.

On Tik Tok, it is andrerunusa2020.

"My dream of helping refugee children get help with an education is making me enjoy my life," Eloumou said. "This really is about the journey, not the destination."

 

Reader Comments(0)