Forgotten Futures: The Lives of Refugee Children in Urban Areas of Indonesia and Thailand

In two urban areas of Indonesia and Thailand, Greater Jakarta and Bangkok, live some 20,000 refugees, with limited access to basic rights, waiting for resettlement or the chance to return to their countries of origin. This study seeks to build an understanding of the education and child protection issues surrounding refugee and asylum-seeking children living in these precarious and detrimental situations. Research conducted in Bangkok and Jakarta included interviews with service providers and refugee community members as well as site visits to community learning centres, detention centres and shelters.

Findings revealed complex and interconnected challenges, especially in regard to child protection and access to education, the two main focuses of the study. Based on the findings of the report, recommendations are made to service providers in Bangkok and Jakarta, including Save the Children, in the areas of community outreach and communication; advocacy and public awareness; training and capacity development; research; coordination and innovative ways of working.