At US-Mexico border, a bus becomes a school for migrant children in limbo

SUMMARY

The children crammed into the bus and sat in two neat lines, poring over notebooks at desks where once there had been passenger seats. From the overhead baggage bins, a teacher hung their exploits: coloured alphabet letters, watercolour paintings.In the border city of Tijuana just miles from the US border, in a dirt parking lot adjoining a migrant shelter, that bus is offering a rare chance at school to Central American and Mexican children.For most of the several dozen who have passed through the programme since it began in mid-July, education was a distant dream in the weeks or months since their parents decided to uproot and head north to seek refuge or a better life.

By ReutersAug 6, 2019 10:32:30 AM IST (Published)

Migrant children take English lessons at a bus converted in a classroom as part of Schools On Wheels program by California's 'Yes We Can' organisation, in Tijuana, Mexico. REUTERS/Jorge Duenes

Migrant children are seen outside a bus converted in a classroom as part of Schools On Wheels program by California's 'Yes We Can' organisation, in Tijuana, Mexico. REUTERS/Jorge Duenes

A migrant child takes English lessons at a bus converted in a classroom as part of Schools On Wheels program. REUTERS/Jorge Duenes

Migrant children show their work to a teacher after taking English lessons at a bus converted in a classroom as part of Schools On Wheels program. REUTERS/Jorge Duenes

A teacher interacts with migrant children during English lessons at a bus converted in a classroom. REUTERS/Jorge Duenes

Estefania Rebellon, director of the programme called Yes We Can, said it offers specialised bilingual education for childrenwho tend to have low literacy and struggle with social skills. Providing care and security are important too. REUTERS/Jorge Duenes