A. EDUCATION

UN Sustainability Goal No. 4: Good Education.

Education – a way to give children hope for a better future.

Education is a main focus of all programs for Mother Foundation-US. Nearly 50% of the sponsorship budget is used for education and activities related to education. It is our conviction that education is a very effective way of combating poverty, which again makes the way out of poverty possible.
Children who complete the education acquire knowledge that makes them easier to get work and thus income when they grow up. Through our approach, we contribute to reaching the UN’s sustainability goals for good education.

An important aspect is that almost 80% of the children in our programs are girls. In India – especially in villages and in remote areas – there are especially boys who prioritize education. Girls are often regarded as a burden for the families. We come into contact with married couples who are desperate to give birth to a boy instead of a girl as they have already given birth to several girls. It is common for families to save money for education for their sons, but not for their daughters. Young widows must also prepare to take care of their in- laws.

India has long traditions of learning and education. The country likes to present a picture of itself as a country with great scientific and technical progress. The reality is, however, massive illiteracy and a weak education system. According to UNESCO estimates, more than 30% of the population over 15 years are illiterate. Only three out of ten Indian girls complete 10 years of schooling. It is this situation that has caused SevaChildren to prioritize girls education and thus contributes to the fact that more than 80% of children in our programs are girls.

Short facts about Education in India:

1. It is still very likely that fewer girls than boys start at school
2. In 2005, and in elementary school (age group 6-8) 8.8% fewer girls than boys started.
3. For children from different indigenous people, gender differences were 12.6% and for the untouchables, gender differences were 16%. 1)
4. Likewise, children from different indigenous groups and untouchables are less likely to complete 8 years of schooling.
5. In addition, the rate for children dropping out of the school, is 62,9% for the indigenous groups and 55,2% for the untouchables compared to a national average of 48,4%
6. Today, about 1 in 5 primary school teachers do not have the necessary academic minimum competence to ensure children’s rights to good learning

What do we do:

• Provide support for school uniforms, school supplies, school transport and tuition fees
• Provide support for the improvement of existing- and new schools
• Provide extra education for children and adolescents who have left school
• Vocational education
• Birthdays and other celebrations as needed
• Annual excursions for children in our areas of work
• Postgraduate and training course for school teachers
• Study classes, exam preparation classes as well as parental meetings
• Creative seminars, courses for individual development and various hobby courses
• Small library of books, newspapers, CDs, etc.