Support Education for All With a Vote for Africa Educational Trust in Our Charity Poll for June 2020

Posted on 26 May 2020 by Amy Jackson
The Africa Educational Trust (AET) has one simple goal - to provide education for all in the face of poverty and conflict. Believing that everyone has the right education regardless of age, race, gender, ethnicity or economical background, they work to build better education systems in areas affected by poverty, conflict or discrimination. Since the charity was founded in 1958, their work has included individual scholarships for students to in-country projects which support areas that are usually excluded from education, including South Sudan, Somalia, Uganda and Kenya. AET believes that education allows people to recognise their potential and to build better futures within their communities, and to date their projects have helped over three million children, young people and adults.

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Education For All


Africa Educational Trust works with a number of different groups and communities that are often excluded from education. This includes:

Girls and Women: There are a number of complex reasons as to why girls and women can miss out on the education they deserve. This includes pressure for them to undertake traditional roles as housekeepers and mothers, money for education usually being invested in boys and men, lack of sanitation facilities, and sadly, the risk of sexual assault from male peers and teachers. All of AET’s projects include girls and women, but they still work to address the specific challenges, such as providing proper sanitation facilities, safe places to study and grants and scholarships to girls from struggling families.

People with Disabilities: In the areas which AET works, there are a number of barriers that disabled people face. Many people in these areas view disability as a curse or punishment, and many families are embarrassed by members with disabilities, keeping them at home as a result. Poverty also means that often, ‘healthy’ children are given priority. In addition, schools can have a lack of resources for disabled children, and there is the negative view that disabled children are incapable of learning. AET works to ensure that schools provide flexible and inclusive learning plans that support the needs of disabled children, as well as working with teachers to change attitudes and help them identify children who need additional support. The charity also provides training for disabled people who have previously missed out on school.

Displaced Communities: As a result of armed conflict, natural disasters or persecution in these areas, between 3.5 and 4 million people are displaced, and over half of them are children. Education is rarely funded during conflicts because it is not seen as essential, and many displaced children need to stay home to support their families. In areas where school is still operating, fighting can also mean that children have an unsafe journey to school. AET believes that education should not be put on hold when people are displaced, which is why they work to ensure that it continues. As well as providing education for people in Somalia and South Sudan, they also help displaced people integrate into new communities and support education systems outside of camps.

Pastoralists: The pastoralist lifestyle is dependent on a persons’ livestock for their livelihood. Often their lives revolve around their animals and supporting their herds. With an estimate of around 30 million pastoralists living in the Horn of Africa, they are faced by a number of challenges when it comes to education. Many teachers are unwilling to work in remote areas, while often the classes provided don’t accommodate pastoralist communities and the focus of study doesn’t match their needs. Believing that education should not have to come at the expense of a persons’ livelihood, AET are working to make sure that education is tailored to support the pastoralist lifestyle. This includes linking numeracy and literacy skills with practical ones such as veterinary training, training teachers within pastoralist groups so classes can travel, and funding grants to buy livestock, allowing teachers to be paid by the communities.

Street Children: For a child forced to live on the streets, going to school becomes virtually impossible. While they still have the right to education, school systems don’t tend to accommodate this vulnerable group. Street children often miss out on school as they need to work to support themselves, while the stigma towards being on the streets can also create issues for them to integrate with their peers. AET not only works to bring street children back into education, but also to transition them away from the street life too. This includes working with schools to help them understand the situation and support the children reintegrating with the system, and providing school starter kits for street children and families to help them start their journey into education.

 

How is Africa Educational Trust Funded? 


AET is largely funded by larger institutional donors, trusts and foundations. However, they are also supported by individual donations, fundraising efforts and corporate partnerships. This allows the charity to design innovative and creative new projects, as well as to ensure flexibility across the regions where their work is needed.

This month, Discount Promo Codes are supporting Africa Educational Trust in our charity poll. Support education for all and help communities to thrive by casting your vote for them this June! Find out more about the charity and their projects by visiting their website.

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