Team Impact
All Countries

A crash course in global education

by Deron D.
8.8.2018

14

With operations in 10 countries, the kids in Children International’s program have vastly different educational experiences (and challenges). Discover some facts & stastics about each of the countries where CI kids live and the education hurdles they face on their path toward a poverty-free life.

There are just 8 public universities in all of Zambia. For a bit of perspective, the Philippines has more than 100!

Many kids in Guatemala drop out of school at a young age in order to work and help their families. Only 47% enroll in middle school, and much fewer make it to high school.

Although the Dominican Republic can boast that they have the oldest University in the New World (University of Santo Domingo – founded in 1538!), very few kids from underprivileged backgrounds even get the opportunity to attend this fully government-funded institution.

There is an ongoing debate about which college is the oldest such established institution in the United States. The finalists usually boil down to these three:

India’s primary school completion rate is a respectable 96%. However, only 62% of the population goes on to enroll in secondary school.

In Mexico, traditional gender roles play a significant factor in educational outcomes: 83% of girls (under 18) who marry drop out of school, compared to just a 15% dropout rate for unmarried girls.

Colombia has made strides in recent years to provide more equitable access to higher education. Over a recent six-year span, the percentage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds enrolled as college freshman rose from 46 to 58 percent.

25% of Ecuadorian children drop out by the 6th grade, even though Ecuador’s constitution stipulates a compulsory and free education for all children through the 9th grade. After that, school fees must be paid in order for kids to complete their final three years.

Among the places where CI operates, Honduras has one of the weakest education systems, receiving minimal government support. An additional obstacle, especially for some of CI’s Honduran and Guatemalan children, is the high rate of gang violence, making it unsafe for children and youth to travel to and from school.

At Children International, we understand that problems in education don’t have a one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why we invest — with input from professionals and the families we serve — in a wide range of tools designed to achieve our goal of helping kids complete secondary school. Because going to school is absolutely essential to building a future free from poverty.

Thanks to our supporters, here are some of the ways CI boosts education for sponsored kids:

Providing material support such as supplies, uniforms, shoes, books, school fees and transportation assistance
Awarding scholarships to attend secondary school as well as vocational school, college or other higher education institutions
Working directly with parents to ensure their kids are enrolled in school
Academic tutoring for kids
Partnering with existing educational facilities in the community
Engaging parents on how to better support their children’s education
Access to safe learning spaces and educational resources at our community centers, with libraries and computer labs.