‘Post-primary education should be a promise, not a dream.’ (Sadako Ogata, founder of the RET).

The RET, headquartered in Geneva, with offices around the world, was founded in December 2000 by Mrs Sadako Ogata, then United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The RET is an independent, impartial, non-partisan organisation, with no religious or political affiliation. Although financially independent from UN agencies, we have strategic alliances with UNHCR, UNESCO-IBE, UNICEF, IOM among others.

At the RET, we are committed to assisting communities to meet the educational needs, in the broadest sense, of young people made vulnerable by displacement, violence, armed conflict and disasters.

We have been active on three continents – 17 countries – 71 programmes, of which 17 have been over multiple years. Currently, our regional focus is on Afghanistan/Pakistan, Chad/Sudan/Kenya, Burundi/Congo/Tanzania, Haiti and Ecuador/Colombia/Panama/Costa Rica. To date, we have been able to help half a million direct beneficiaries – learners and educators, and nearly three million indirect beneficiaries. We provide a continuum of formal and non-formal programmes in classical secondary education, distance learning, livelihoods and vocational training in marketable trades, teacher training, life skills training, addressing gender issues, psycho-social needs, human rights, peace education, conflict prevention/mitigation and solutions to other community development challenges. Additionally, we provide a bridge to employment and economic development, and to formal tertiary education.

At the RET, we are currently working in areas that are either in conflict, coming out of conflict, or at high risk of violence. Our focus is not only on the emergency relief needs of refugees, but on the developmental needs for the returnees, and of course on the ever-growing numbers of internally displaced arising from conflicts within country borders. The RET helps bridge the gap between humanitarian and development assistance.