Education varies from country to country, so global education is an expansive topic. Students learn key vocational skills and expand their future opportunities by developing empathy, fostering confidence and nurturing their academics in a structured setting to improve their quality of life.

Investment in education will yield significant returns for society. It is key that underprivileged communities are given the opportunity to gain quality education and learn skills to be able to compete and thrive in today’s constantly changing times.

Our subsidiary company, Geneva Global, has longstanding expertise in this space. I spoke with Josh Muskin, Senior Education Director at Geneva Global, who shared why education access is necessary, “Many development outcomes depend on people being educated. There is a significant return on investment that can take the form of economic status (gain) and workforce expansion.” Within the economic sector, education contributes to the supply and demand of employees in the workforce. Josh emphasized that education impacts are hard to measure quantitatively and may not receive the same attention that other funds do. Thus, education is massively underfunded worldwide.

Our charity partners are dedicated to education access and more as they work extensively to provide millions with opportunities to thrive. Join us as we help close the education funding gap and grow educational resource access to populations around the world.

Children International
Children International is dedicated to helping children gain the education, life skills and job-preparation training that is necessary for them to be confident in their knowledge. By investing in children and their families, Children International can create a better future for subsequent generations.

One specific way that Children International promotes transformative education is through HOPE (Helping Overcome Poverty Through Education) scholarships. Thousands of students rely on this program to continue their studies within secondary schools, vocational training or college educations.

Paul, a 20-year-old from Ecuador, was one of the students who benefitted from this program. He writes, “Thanks to CI’s HOPE scholarship, I could pursue my desired profession. I thank Children International from the bottom of my heart for helping me with the cost of my learning at the Ecuadorian Red Cross Institute.”

Lesly, an 18-year-old from Guatemala, was another student who gained invaluable learning experiences from this program. She writes, “If you ask me to talk about how education has changed my life, I will start by saying that now I cannot imagine my life without studying — learning more and more every day. The scholarship has been vital for me.”

With the help of Children International and donors like you, students like Lesly and Paul gain indispensable education and academic resources that allow them to prevail in their professional lives and gain learning opportunities that they would otherwise not have access to.

Operation Smile 
Operation Smile believes that where you live shouldn’t determine if you live.

As a critical part of providing free surgery and comprehensive care for people born with cleft conditions around the world, Operation Smile remains committed to the training and education of health care professionals in low- and middle-income countries.

That’s because a common gap in low-resource environments is the lack of surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses.

In Rwanda, there are only two reconstructive plastic surgeons serving a country of more than 13 million people. To address this dire need, Operation Smile’s partnership with the University of Rwanda, Partners in Health and the Rwandan ministry of health has trained more than 25 general surgery residents to provide life-changing – and oftentimes life-saving – reconstructive plastic surgeries in their local hospitals. Through this partnership, more people are receiving the care they need closer to their communities.

And today, Operation Smile is contributing to a three-year training program for residents specializing in reconstructive plastic surgery alongside its partners at the University of Rwanda, the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) and the Rwandan Surgical Society.

When the first cohort of residents graduate from the program in 2022, the number of Rwandan reconstructive plastic surgeons will more than double from two to five.

Through dynamic training and education programs such as these in Rwanda, Operation Smile is building towards more people helping more patients in more places around the world.

UNICEF USA
UNICEF USA aids and protects the world’s most vulnerable children. They advocate for children’s rights and work to deliver essentials that each child should have access to – education, health, nutrition, water and emergency relief. UNICEF’s education programs get children into schools and focus on creating cohesive learning environments. These educational programs allow children to develop critical thinking skills alongside academic skills. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures, it is even more essential for children to have access to education and return to school.

Sudanese boys in school

Gates Philanthropy Partners 
Gates Philanthropy Partners—a public charity affiliated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—serves individuals in communities around the world through its programs to combat COVID-19, eliminate disease, empower women and girls, promote global health innovation and advance U.S. education initiatives. Gates Philanthropy Partners works with regional U.S. education programs and aims to “ensure that children in the U.S. have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life.”

In an interview with Gates Philanthropy Partners, Henry Hipps, Deputy Director of the K-12 Education team at the Gates Foundation, discusses the hardships of virtual learning. He states, “One area, for example, is the digital divide — getting students access to the Internet and computing technology. The Gates Foundation and other private philanthropies have been working to close this divide for years.” The goal of the K-12 Education program is to foster high-quality education for all in order to help students gain successful careers, social mobility and personal growth.

Clinton Foundation

Chelsea Clinton reads to children at a “Family Read, Play & Learn” space at a Reach Out and Read Wisconsin clinic in Milwaukee, WI.

The Clinton Foundation has donated more than 1.2 million children’s books to families in under-resourced communities and reached over 175,000 parents through their Too Small to Fail education promotion program. This program provides families with early language and learning opportunities to allow young children to gain the resources they need to prosper in kindergarten and beyond. By providing learning sources early on, Too Small to Fail can help jumpstart access to education to those who need it most. This is especially important as communities are now seeing drastic impacts on young children’s early brain development and education because of the COVID-19 pandemic. These early education programs expand the possibilities for children’s futures by allowing them to reach their full potential.

SEE International 
SEE International (SEE) is dedicated to restoring sight and providing life-changing vision care services to blind people in developing countries.

Girl in a mask holding a hand over her eye

Oliva is one patient who received care in August 2021 during SEE International’s annual Children’s Sight Week. During this event, SEE Santa Barbara Vision Care clinics provided 64 eye screenings and 32 eye exams for young patients, Olivia included. She received a pair of glasses and school supplies free of charge. When asked about the importance of vision her mother noted, “Our vision is everything,” and “[Olivia] really enjoys drawing and painting and I want her to be able to do those things.” With her glasses and stock of new school supplies, she can work towards her dream of becoming an art teacher. Olivia, like many other children who received care from SEE, is now able to pursue her education and aim for success!

SEE does not just restore sight. They restore life.

Dr. Helena Ndume embraces a patient whose sight was restored with SEE's support.

Education goes beyond getting a job or having stability in early years. While it does an excellent job of providing both things, it is one of the most powerful tools available because it allows you to pursue your dreams with the knowledge and resources to make a difference.

Paul is now able to afford education and work toward his goal of becoming a paramedic because of the Children International’s HOPE scholarship. Olivia can continue her education and her ambition of becoming an art teacher thanks to the free vision care services and school supplies provided by SEE International. In each of these instances, access to resources has been life-changing. The extensive work of these charities will allow millions of children to continue their education and reach their full potential; uplifting themselves, their communities and the world. You and I can take part in this movement toward furthering access to key learning resources by donating to these charities in your workplace campaign or through our Education Fund!