We’ve supported our members with more than €17.4m in funding since 2017 for education projects in the following areas:
€5,060,938
Primary Education
€4,288,244
Non-formal/
Alternative Education
€3,385,459
Technical & Vocational
Education & Training
€3,411,453
Secondary Education
€1,336,165
Early Childhood Care
& Education
Education - especially for girls - is vital in the developing world. A child born to a mother who can read is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five.*
It’s an undeniable fact that education opens doors for people whose options in life might otherwise be far more limited.
However, unlocking potential doesn’t only benefit the person who has been educated. Better employment prospects and a greater awareness of rights and opportunities can also assist other family members and the wider community.
Worldwide, Misean Cara members place a special emphasis on supporting quality education, particularly the education of vulnerable girls in developing countries. Without essential skills such as reading and writing, and training in vocational and workplace skills, girls in many countries are at high risk of early marriage and pregnancy. Education develops their confidence, independence and decision-making skills. In short, it transforms lives.
In 2020 alone, we supplied funding of more than €4.7m to 99 member education projects. More than 255,106 people were targeted with these projects, with 97% of participants staying enrolled throughout the year, despite the challenges that COVID-19 presented to many students.
TANZANIA:
Providing quality education for orphans and street children in Dar es Salaam
On the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, many poor children in the Mbagala district have never been to school. Some are orphans from the HIV and AIDS epidemic, others are homeless street children, still others have been pushed into early employment.
To bring hope of a more secure future, the La Sainte Union Sisters run an accelerated learning programme for children who are out of school. This aims to help them access state-run public schools where they can continue their education and grow into confident adults who make a positive contribution to society.
When students enter the Complementary Basic Education in Tanzania (COBET) project they have many things in common: few have ever been to school; all are over the age of 10 with maths and literacy skills that are below pre-school level; poor discipline and low self-esteem are also the norm.
In their first year, students learn basic literacy and numeracy skills. They move on in their second year to study Maths, Science, English and literacy in the local Kiswahili language. To help the students overcome significant behavioural challenges and gaps in general knowledge outside of school, teaching life skills is also an important part of the curriculum.
More than 1000 children and young people have now come through the project. All moved on to local primary schools and passed state exams, with results that regularly exceed those of the other students. Some even graduate from university and return to inspire younger students.
The school has now been selected as a centre of excellence. This is further testament to the quality of the education being provided and how modern missionary-led development and education can transform lives.
Keeping Vulnerable Girls Enrolled During COVID-19
When COVID-19 forced the COBET to close for three months in 2020, there was a high risk that the 200 children enrolled would not return after the lockdown. Girls in particular were especially at risk of being forced into early marriage. Observing an increased rate of early pregnancy in the area during this period, the project team were concerned that this would also affect pupils.
The team therefore made extra efforts to maintain contact with their pupils. After providing them with support, information and encouragement during the closure, all of the COBET children returned to school and none had become pregnant. To make up for lost learning time, extra hours were added to the school day until everyone had caught up.
The COBET programme continues to be a success despite the challenges presented by the continuing pandemic.