Why Education Can’t Wait: Afrin’s Story

A father leaves home to provide for his family.
A child falls behind in school.
One injury changes everything.

Across Nepal and many parts of the world, families depend on migrant work to survive. But when that work becomes dangerous or unstable, it’s often children’s education that is disrupted first.

Afrin’s story shows what happens when that disruption is met with support, and what’s at stake when it isn’t.

What this story shows:

• Access to education can be interrupted overnight.
• Migrant labor risks directly impact children’s futures.
• With support from buildOn, students can return, recover, and succeed.

The Risk Behind Migrant Work

For many families in Nepal, working abroad is seen as a path to stability. Each year, hundreds of thousands of workers leave home for jobs in the Middle East, often in construction.

But those opportunities come with real risks.

According to Human Rights Watch, migrant workers in Saudi Arabia have gone months without pay, leaving families without income and forcing workers into extreme hardship. Others face even more dangerous conditions, with reports of workers being electrocuted, crushed, or falling to their deaths on job sites.

When something goes wrong, the consequences don’t stop with the worker. They ripple back home to their families.

In many cases, that means letting education fall by the wayside.

How Migration Impacts Children’s Education: Meet Afrin

Afrin was six years old when her father left Nepal to work as a plumber on construction sites in Saudi Arabia.

Like many families, they hoped the opportunity would create a better future.

Instead, it brought uncertainty.

After two years abroad, her father was severely injured in a construction accident and returned home unable to work. The family lost its primary source of income but remained burdened by debt from financing his migration.

Almost immediately, Afrin’s education began to slip.

She completed Grade 4, but the instability at home made it hard to attend school consistently or keep up with her studies. Eventually, she had to move away from home to live with relatives in another village.

Her story reflects a broader reality: when income disappears, education is often the first thing to be disrupted.

Helping Students Return to School

When buildOn staff met Afrin, she was at risk of falling permanently behind.

Through targeted outreach, she was identified and invited to participate in accelerated learning classes designed to help students catch up and return to school.

In 2021, Afrin came back to school. She received supplies, academic support, and consistent encouragement. Slowly, things began to change.

“I felt happy to study again, and my confidence improved,” she says.

Her teachers noticed the difference. She became more focused, completed assignments consistently, and was a fixture in the classroom. By 2023, her progress earned her placement in Grade 7.

A Future Back on Track

Afrin’s journey isn’t just about catching up academically. It’s about rebuilding confidence and stability.

Today, she is preparing for her Grade 9 final examinations—an important milestone that once felt uncertain.

Her teachers describe her as disciplined, responsible, and committed to her education.

Afrin comes from a community where many girls still face barriers to continuing their education. Despite these challenges, she has remained determined to keep moving forward.

“I like the teaching profession,” Afrin says. “That is why when I grow up I want to become a teacher and give education to others.”

At home, there are signs of recovery as well. With support from the community, her father has begun teaching at a local madrasa, regaining a sense of purpose and helping support the family again.

Progress didn’t happen all at once. It happened because people showed up at the right time.

“When I grow up I want to become a teacher and give education to others.” —Afrin

Why Access to Education Matters

Afrin’s story highlights a reality across the countries we work in: When families face economic shocks, children’s education is one of the first things affected.

Whether it’s unpaid wages, unsafe working conditions, or injury abroad, the risks migrant workers face don’t stay isolated. They impact entire families and often determine whether a child stays in school.

But her story also shows what’s possible. When students are identified early, supported consistently, and given the tools to catch up, they return to school, stay there, and thrive.

Keeping Students in School

No child’s education should depend on whether their parent’s job is safe. No student should fall behind because of circumstances beyond their control.

Afrin’s story is a reminder that while global challenges like labor migration and economic instability are complex, the solution for students can be simple:

Find them. Support them. Keep them learning.

If you want to help ensure that students like Afrin have the opportunity to stay in school and build a future, consider making a tax-deductible donation to support buildOn’s work today.