For many of us, education is a normal process that we embark on, from K-12. At least in the U.S., it is mandatory and aims to be standardized across the country, so that regardless of what state you’re raised in, you will ideally be on the same playing field as other students of your same age. The touted value of education is “to prepare you for the real world” which loosely translates to “to help you get a good job so that you can afford what you want in life.”
For many others, the path to education is not so paved. If we look at countries like Chad, South Sudan, and Afghanistan, these countries consistently rank poorly for economic freedom, literacy, and poverty. There are various barriers in place that make education a non-priority for many children and families. These countries’ education systems struggle due to chronic underfunding, a shortage of qualified teachers, widespread poverty that forces kids to work, instability from conflict and climate change, poor infrastructure, and high dropout rates, all of which lead to low enrollment, high illiteracy, and poor learning outcomes, especially for girls. These countries contribute to a more serious global total of 250 million out-of-school children, according to UNESCO. That is near the entire population of Pakistan, the fifth most populous country as of 2025. Though this number is severe, there are charities and programs working incredibly hard to bring reliable education to all corners of the world.
Children International’s HOPE Scholarship Program has helped Razel, a 23-year-old college student in his final year of elementary education studies at the local community college in Bicol, Philippines. He and his five siblings were orphaned four years ago. Currently, he lives with two of them in a government-subsidized house that lacks electricity and water. Razel’s dream is to be a professional educator, and one day get his family out of poverty. With help from the HOPE Scholarship Program, Razel will be in a better position to accomplish his goals.
Anna Ayugi is finishing her master’s degree in palliative care at Makerere University in Uganda. With resources and help from Global Partners in Care, Anna has been able to focus on her skill development rather than scraping money together to fund her education. There is a need for palliative care specialists as well as basic-trained community health workers. Global Partners in Care is working to expand the scholarship to meet the needs of the growth of the program as well as the needs of the communities it aims to serve.
When Deva was a toddler, her father was sentenced to prison. Overnight, her mother became the sole breadwinner, and while she worked multiple jobs, they struggled financially. The school district that Deva belonged to in Cambodia did not offer free public schooling, and Deva was faced with the growing possibility of having to drop out of school to help support her family. The Child’s Journey sponsorship program from Prison Fellowship International helped provide supplemental food support, health checks and monitoring, mentoring, and emotional care, as well as assistance with school fees and supplies. Last year, Deva was able to graduate from the program and secured a spot in university to study medicine.
Loay Elbasyouni was one of the engineers behind the historic first helicopter flight on Mars. He’s also a Palestinian refugee and a graduate of UNRWA schools. Loay was five years old when he moved from Germany to the Gaza Strip. Like most children in Gaza, Loay was a product of an UNRWA education, which he credits for putting him on the path to where he is today. UNRWA schools, in partnership with UNESCO, have supported four generations of Palestinian refugees to receive quality education even in times of crisis.
Education is utilitarian, and educated people contribute to the economy and help drive societal progress. Education, especially higher education (which can rarely be achieved without first primary and secondary schooling), is linked to higher income levels, reduced poverty, and greater social mobility. A skilled workforce is an educated workforce. Consider donating to Children International, Global Partners in Care, Prison Fellowship International, and UNRWA USA in your workplace giving campaign to help provide opportunities for children to reach their full potential.
