Access to good education is the key to escaping perpetual poverty in rural Southern Africa

Lack of access to basic education in sub-Saharan Africa remains a crisis.

Facts:

  • 105 million school-age children did not enroll in school in 2019, with 11 million from Southern Africa

  • 87% of children cannot read and understand simple text

    Percent of school dropout due to lack of resources by age group:

  • Over 20% of children between 6 and 11 years old

  • More than 33% of youth between 12 and 14 years old

  • Almost 60% of youth between 15 and 17 years old

    (UNESCO Institute for Statistics and the 2021 report by the African Union and UNICEF)

Primary and secondary school education are the foundation for development and further income growth

Access to good education:

REDUCES POVERTY

Higher education correlates to lower poverty rates. For example, if every student in developing countries learned basic reading skills, there would be 171 million fewer people living in poverty. Educated household are less likely to be in poverty compared to uneducated households.

EMPOWERS MARGINALIZED PEOPLE

More girls drop out of school that boys. About 40% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa marry before age 18, mostly to escape poverty. Women with a secondary education can work and earn twice as much than those with no education. Education promotes income equality, healthcare, family planning, and prevents underage marriages.

PROMOTES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Studies have shown that each additional year of education is associated with a 35% higher GDP per capita. More economic growth means communities and countries can devote more resources to developing better infrastructure for education, healthcare, sanitation and more.

INCREASES INDIVIDUAL EARNINGS

On average, adults with higher education levels earn higher incomes. Basic education provides important life skills such as math and reading, which increase knowledge, productivity, skills, self-reliance, and employability which in turn increases overall individual income.

Help us Bring education to each and every child in rural Southern Africa!

We believe every child has a right to get an education, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

 

 CHIRINDO FOUNDATION is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax deductible. EIN 87-2375634