In 2018, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed January 24^th the International Day of Education. Its aim is to celebrate the role of education to build a more sustainable, peaceful, and inclusive future for all.

Everyone on the planet has a right to education but, sadly, not everyone has access to it. In my five years with Trades of Hope I’ve heard stories of people who either must drop out of education or have never been to school. Many of our Artisan partners are uneducated, and several of our Artisan groups provide education as part of their holistic care programs.

Why are so many children, especially girls, uneducated? There are a number of factors:

• Tradition says a girl doesn’t need to attend school since her only duty is to be a good wife and mother. (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-59453143)
• A girl must assist with daily household tasks such as fetching water.
• In poor families, a child must work to help provide necessary income for food, shelter, etc.
• There’s no money to provide the required uniform, books, teacher fees, etc.
• There isn’t a school within walking distance (the nearest one is over an hour’s walk away).
• It’s too dangerous for a girl to walk to school and she doesn’t have any other means of transport, such as a bicycle.
• Some schools, in places such as Uganda, have been closed for over two years due to strict Coronavirus measures (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59507542)

Education is key in eradicating poverty. I’m not talking about going to college or university, but the education we take for granted such as high school. I’ve sponsored a young man in Sierra Leone for over a dozen years. He’s in his early 20s, but still attending school because he started later in life. Still, better late than never. Because when a child is educated it’s more likely they will educate their children, and that’s how positive change happens.

For more information on the International Day of Education, visit the United Nations website at: https://www.un.org/en/observances/education-day

On my Trades of Hope website you can choose to filter your shopping choices by cause. We have over 100 items you can purchase to support education for girls in areas of cultural discrimination and extreme poverty: https://tradesofhope.com/order/send-girls-to-school?u=SallyMcCombs (USA mailing addresses only)