I’m Concerned: Missing the Value of Education in Africa

When I took my first trip to Africa in 2006,  I expected to see devastating poverty. I was sure I would see hunger and starvation up close. And I was certain that I’d experience the crushing reality of how HIV/AIDS had gutted the country.

Pictures swirled in my mind of emaciated people with distended bellies stooping to drink water from muddy puddles. I envisioned people without hope, just waiting for death.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I saw all of those things and much worse. But I had judged Africa by the picture on the cover. The view is quite different from inside the pages.

Amidst these great needs stood a mountain of hope. Rock solid and unwavering, this hope carried widowed grandmothers (go-gos) and orphans from one day to the next. It was—and is—a hope that tomorrow is a better place and is filled with opportunities.

“What is the one thing your country needs most?” I asked.

Being the American I am I knew they would say “FOOD! Give us food to eat!” or “WATER! Give us water to drink!” It was so obvious.

But that’s not what they said.

“Give us education for our children,” they said, “Without education we will have no hope for Swaziland and our country will die.”

The Swazi people know that if they are kept alive by the feeding programs and water wells we give them but have no education, then they will have no way to thrive and succeed on their own. They will always need someone to bring them food and water—and that is notour vision for development in Swaziland.

I am concerned we are missing this point—just as I did back in 2006.

Last year Children’s HopeChest made education one of the top three projects for our year end campaign. Although we received almost $60,000 in our online campaign, only $2,000 was given to support education. That’s enough to help about 10 kids for a year.

But we need to help 4,500 that visit our CarePoints. You can give online today at http://bit.ly/fCABof

I can persuade you to give by quoting statistics, telling you stories, and citing academic papers. I want you to give to support education not because of the evidence. I know that sending a child to school is not as exciting as rescuing someone from trafficking.

I want you to give because the children and go-gos of Swaziland have asked you to.

True credibility comes when we listen to a community’s needs and respond with compassion and partnership. I envision a Swaziland transformed by education. But they cannot do it without our help, your help.

Food and water are consumables. They are needed, but they are temporary commodities. The education you give a child will last forever. And it will enable them to go places, do things, and serve others in ways that we couldn’t possibly imagine today.

For the people of Swaziland, who have so patiently and persistently asked us to get their kids in school, I am asking you to right now take responsibility for one child in Swaziland.  Just one.

Depending on the age of a child, the fees can range from $50 to $600.  Whatever you can give, we need to help thousands of children in Swaziland receive a quality education.

Make a gift right now on this special donation page:  http://bit.ly/fCABof

Without school, the hope of Swaziland may die. And no amount of food and water will bring it back to them.

For the Fatherless,

Tom Davis

CEO