Education Is a Human Right – For All Children

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Many children in Canada have heard their parent’s tales about the journey to school in the ‘old days’. “I had to walk uphill, both ways, barefoot in the snow!” is a histrionic story shared across generations. Unfortunately, there are many children globally who do face such dangerous physical obstacles which prevent them from accessing an education. 

Suarika, in Ghana, is one of these children and according to The UNESCO Institute for Statistics, such difficulties are preventing more than 260-million children globally from receiving an education. 

Children like Suarika, and children around the world, often have to overcome a long journey through rugged terrain, past polluted waterways, or alternatively, across dangerously congested city streets and in areas rife with violent crime and gangs. Additionally for girls, gender-based violence, forced child marriage and responsibilities in the home keep them away from school. 

Pandemic roadblocks

Children Believe is a Canadian non-profit helping children globally overcome barriers to education and other life essentials. This fall, Angus Reid conducted a study on its behalf which found that 84 percent of Canadian parents recognize COVID-19 has set back previous progress made in children’s education. Indeed, the global pandemic has further heightened the barriers faced in vulnerable communities, and it threatens to set back two decades of progress made in girls’ education, specifically.

However, hope is not lost. Through COVID-19, Children Believe has supported communities to keep kids learning. In the past year, more than 375,000 teaching aids, computers, furniture pieces and play materials were shared to help equip and positively motivate educators and students during local lockdowns. More than 63,000 students were reached in Ghana, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Burkina Faso, India, and Ethiopia alone through these efforts.


Clearing the path to education

The survey also found 62 percent of Canadian parents want to help improve access to education for vulnerable children, but don’t know how. By joining with Children Believe, Canadians can help a child in need gain access to an education that will help change their future for the better.  

For children like Suarika, Children Believe has made a difference in the lives of youth in her community in several ways.

“It is because of Children Believe that children like me, and others, are able to pay for their basic school needs,” she explains. “My school has benefited from a children’s club, received computers, a playground, dual desks and so much more.”

You can make a difference and help Children Believe’s goal to give half-a-million children access to education by 2024. Walk alongside a child in need, so they can reach their dreams. Head to childrenbelieve.ca, and give the gift of education by visiting the Gifts for Good catalogue today.