Education Appeal

some kids would never think of wagging school

When UNICEF asked children around the world if going to school was important to them, their comments were unequivocal. In the words of one thirteen-year-old girl Ayesha, "I love it... I want to be a teacher when I grow up because I want children in my village to get a quality education". Education isn't just about teaching children to read and write, it's about teaching them lessons for life. It's one of the most powerful tools we have to reduce poverty and inequality.

Antonio Benjamin is one of the millions of children benefitting from UNICEF’s Schools for Africa campaign. Five years ago, Antonio and his sister Deolinda tragically lost both their parents. Sadly this is not uncommon, as a staggering 1.6 million Mozambican children are orphans, many due to AIDS. However, when it comes to his education Antonio is one of the more fortunate ones.

In Mozambique, chronic poverty and gender and regional disparities keep the majority of children out of school. The quality of education is also marred by low completion rates and an extreme shortage of schools and qualified teachers. In fact, for every teacher there’s an overwhelming 82 students.

UNICEF is making a difference. In 2007, we developed the Schools for Africa Campaign to give millions of children in six African countries, including Mozambique, the chance to receive an education. Antonio is just one of these children.

Our focus is to help the most disadvantaged – vulnerable children, orphans and girls. We’re building new schools and repairing existing ones to include clean drinking water, latrines and hand washing facilities. We aim to provide a safe and protective environment where children can learn the basic skills they need to succeed in life. We’re also training new teachers to ensure a quality education.

Education makes children less vulnerable to exploitation

An essential part of a child's development, education gives children a greater ability to reason, communicate effectively and identify the situations where they could find themselves susceptible to mistreatment. These factors reduce the risk of children being exploited. School is also a protective environment, so simply being 'in school' means they are less likely to be exploited or abused.

Education reduces child mortality

Children in school enjoy better nutrition and higher immunisation rates. In addition, for girls, education has a positive effect on reproductive health and ultimately, decreases infant mortality rates. Through teaching children about the prevention and transmission of HIV/AIDS, education has become one of the most potent weapons in the fight against this deadly disease.

Education introduces normality when it's needed most

In times of natural and humanitarian emergencies, education provides children with a sense of normality as they resume learning in a safe environment and have a 'centre' in which to socialise with other children.

What are the barriers to education?

In Australia we take free education for granted, but in many developing countries it's a cost that families just can't afford. Some social customs can also create barriers, particularly those that foster gender inequality. For example, in societies where girls are not deemed as important as boys, or forced into arranged marriages at a very young age, female education is often not seen as worthwhile.

THERE'S SO MUCH YOUR DONATION CAN DO

Every dollar put towards education works manyfold. Your donation will help us get children into school all over the world - by building classrooms, supplying books and pencils, training teachers and working with governments and communities to improve access to education for all children.

• $86 is the cost of four double-sided chalkboards, eight chalkboard dusters, 400 white chalk sticks and 400 coloured chalk sticks, providing four teachers with basic tools to teach classes.
• $150 provides over 400 children with a pencil and exercise book each, to enable them to learn. 
• $280 is the cost of a UNICEF ‘School-in-a-box’ kit, containing education materials for 80 children, including pens and pencils, exercise books, writing slates, blackboard equipment, posters and one teacher’s kit.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION

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Click here for more information or call 1300 134 071 to become a UNICEF Global Parent today.