© Lauren Pasche / Enfants du Monde
One in five school-age children worldwide cannot access education—that’s almost 250 million girls and boys between the ages of 6 and 18. Children deprived of education often face an increased risk of poverty and social exclusion. After all, education is key to gaining access to skilled employment opportunities and, subsequently, a decent income in adulthood.
Education helps to break the cycle of violence and exclusion, creates a level playing field and contributes to a fair and progressive society. On the whole, education helps to give children the opportunity to determine their own future and improve their living conditions. Access to education lays the foundation for a better future.
In countries such as Honduras and El Salvador, among the world’s most violent, children without an education are especially vulnerable to gangs and armed groups. There is a clear link between a low education level and the tendency among young people to join these groups. To avoid violence, these young people urgently need alternatives. School provides not only education, but also protection and prospects—it is the key to a better future. Investing in education not only prevents individual suffering, but also contributes to long-term stability and security in these regions.
In recent years, the Sahel region has seen an escalation in extremist and jihadist violence and radical activism. These developments, together with poor governance and high poverty rates, have led to one of the world’s lowest school attendance rates. Thousands of the region’s schools are closed due to conflicts or threats faced by teachers and students. Schools are often the target of attacks – classrooms are burned down, teachers and pupils are targeted, and armed groups or armed forces occupy schools.
The importance of education is particularly striking, as young people without training are four times more likely to end up living in poverty. Academic achievement depends heavily on social background, which is a great injustice. For all young people to have an equal chance at a promising future, this inequality must be overcome.
Moreover, young people without skills are often unfairly stigmatised. This impairs their chances of finding a job or a vocational position, which in turn makes it more difficult for them to escape the spiral of poverty. To create an inclusive and equitable society, it is crucial to improve educational opportunities and overcome prejudices.
All children in Switzerland and around the world have the right to learn and to have access to high-quality education and training. We now have an opportunity to reduce inequalities and improve children’s and young people’s odds for success in life. Together we can achieve great things.
Our National Day of Solidarity for children and young people in Switzerland and around the world will be taking place on Thursday 21 December. Throughout Switzerland, we will be accepting donations to bolster solidarity for universal education. Together, we are sending out a strong message in favour of equal opportunities and high-quality education for all. Join us today to shape the future in a positive way for our children and young people and lay the foundations for a fair and inclusive society.
Swiss Solidarity, 1211 Geneva 8
Your donation is tax deductible in Switzerland.
