Education plays a vital role in laying the foundation for a healthy and successful life. In fact, education can prevent the poor from being exploited, provide hope for the future and offer tools that allow individuals to act as advocates for economic change within a community! An educated population promotes a better educated nation and an improved social structure.
According to UNESCO, 61 million children of primary school age are not in school. In addition, there are still 758 million illiterate adults worldwide, most of whom are women. Yet, a child whose mother can read is 50 percent more likely to live past age five.
Our Response
Early Childhood Education
According to UNICEF, early childhood development is the key to a full and productive life for a child. In fact, in the first years of life, children establish the cognitive, emotional and social foundation upon which they can build their futures. Recognizing this importance, SHHAI is working on an Early Childhood Development Project that is implementing community-run early learning centers in vulnerable communities.
Child Education
Success Helping Hands For Africa Initiative (SHHAI) Education program gives children hope for a future, as they realize that someone cares about their living conditions and lack of opportunity. By providing tuition, uniforms, books and school supplies, SHHAI provides the essentials for children to receive an education. In addition, parents are taught how to provide for their families through vocational and community trainings, helping them to be better farmers or small business owners, improved community members, and enhanced parents. The Child Sponsorship Program is one way that SHHAI invests in the lives of children in need.
Health Education
Because many of the diseases that plague the developing world are preventable, Success Helping Hands For Africa Initiative regularly reinforces the basics of sanitation and hygiene when working with a community. Key prevention techniques like hand washing, cleaning of utensils and positioning of sanitation facilities in relation to water sources are emphasized.
In addition, Success Helping Hands For Africa Initiative (SHHAI) has partnered to form Mother’s Support Groups in villages across Sierra Leone. These groups promote and educate mothers on child nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, infant and child care, and disease care and prevention.
Adult Education
In developing countries, every additional year of education can increase a person’s future income by 10 percent. Adult education leads to a better educated workforce and more stable economy.
SHHAI supports English and computer education in Nigeria, Gambia , Liberia and Zambia, equipping young adults with skills that give them a critical edge in the job market. SHHAI additionally trains Africa teachers to improve both classroom technique and student performance.
SHHAI also educates parents and law enforcement agencies in West Africa, about human traffickers and how to protect their children.
Family Education
In Nigeria and some others Africa countries, we gather nuclear families together once a month for a nine-month class. In this class we discuss topics like parenting, domestic violence, communication, family budgeting, health, hygiene, community involvement and other topics. We have seen great impact on family’s lives here and are very excited about continuing this program especially since it is one of very few programs that engages the men in the family as well. We work together with other NGOs and also the local Region’s and State’s Government’s office on this program.
We also have a program in place, where we provide local people with education and assistance about the wide-range of problems that impact their communities. Focus areas include health-care, employment, welfare from the local government, disability/handicapped services, etc. Since most of the people have moved to the city from the villages, they are not integrated in the local system and are uninformed about how to seek proper care and services that may be available in the cities. This program seeks to connect these people to the programs and services that can assist them.
