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The word “school” strikes fear into the hearts of most teenagers, but I for one couldn’t imagine a reality in which I never received an education. This is, however, the reality of 72 million primary-school-age children around the world, as well as 759 million adults.
Thankfully, there are several charities which work to provide education to disadvantaged children. The Wings of Hope is a London-based charity, set up by husband and wife duo Mrs Rajni and Dr R. Sriram. The charity funds schools in India and Malawi, giving students free access to primary and secondary education as well as offering a host of extracurricular activities.
Why is this such an important issue? Education is a major force promoting social mobility and the general development of a country. Not only does it prevent the exploitation of children through child labour, it provides them with vital tools needed to obtain good employment later in life. Students are introduced to issues such as sexual health and sanitation, enabling them to better look after themselves. There is a clear correlation, for example, between education level (particularly of girls) and fertility rate, with women who have achieved minimum primary level education having a fertility rate up to 30% lower than their uneducated counterparts.
Limited education systems can also compound problems relating to inequality, due to the lack of available resources. Parents who can’t afford to educate all their children will often prioritise their sons, who may be considered ‘more likely to succeed in a work environment’ and so ‘have more need of an education’. In fact, my school was specifically set up to provide poorer girls with a secondary-level education to which they wouldn’t otherwise have had access. Those with disabilities are also impacted disproportionately, with only 1% of disabled women and 3% of disabled men in Lower Income Countries being literate. Increasing the proportion of children educated can help to make the education system more inclusive, yet another reason why this charity’s work is so important.
The Wings of Hope also runs a fundraising scheme in London schools, called the Wings of Hope Achievement Award (WOHAA), in which I am taking part this year. The scheme involves student teams raising money for the charity with the help of mentors. So far I’ve found it an incredibly positive experience.
“My husband and I truly believe that education is the key to getting children out of the poverty trap. We are proud to invest our time and energies in making a difference to the lives of these disadvantaged children.” - Mrs R Sriram, co-founder of Wings of Hope
