Education as the key to change

Today is the „International Day of Education.“.

I still remember very well the beginning of my education, starting school. I would like to use this day to remind you of the following figures – realities:

• Approximately 263 million children and young people do not go to school.

• 
  Worldwide there are about. 750 million young people and adults, who cannot read or write.
  2/3 of them are women.
• 
  60% of girls in southern Africa have dropped out of secondary school. Often due to early pregnancies, domestic violence, and a lack of education.

The pandemic has made the numbers even higher. More children not going to school, more teenagers dropping out, and schoolchildren who cannot participate in “homeschooling” without a laptop or other technical means... The children we care for usually live in small huts without water, without electricity, and often with more than 10 people in one room. No one has access to the internet, and the teachers do not have the necessary skills to make “homeschooling” continuously possible for the children. At the beginning of January, the schools in Namibia started again and entered a new school year – I am happy that we 16 new Schutzengel children we were able to take in at our partner project Ileni Tulikwafeni in Okahandja. 

Guardian angel children

The steps for children foundation enables over 3,500 children and young people in Namibia and Zimbabwe to attend preschool, kindergarten, or afternoon classes. steps gives children and young adults in Namibia and Zimbabwe a future through education and training and enables them to break the cycle of poverty on their own. The first angel children have already finished their Abitur and are studying in Windhoek. This is sustainable education and gives them the chance of a self-determined future.  Become a guardian angel now and join us on International Day of Education for severely disadvantaged children. I wish you all a successful day, with one or two lovely memories from your school days.
 
Kind regards
Dr Michael Hoppe
Founder of steps for childre

On Guardian Angel Day for Education