Empowering Families Begins with Education
If you asked 10 people how to end extreme poverty in the world, you’d probably get 10 different answers… Some say it’s access to clean water, some say food security, some think it’s housing. These are basic human needs, for sure, but they don’t solve long-term problems and create sustainable change in a community. Education does.
At Help One Now, we empower families through entrepreneurship, education, and community care programs. While all of these programs work together, we believe education is the most important, foundational program.
A key indicator of whether or not we will truly be able to change lives in a community for generations to come is the annual graduation rate.
If all adults completed secondary education (in US terms, that means finishing high school), global poverty would be cut in half. (source)
Key Benefits of Education
- Reduces global poverty & boosts the economy
- Reduces the exploitation of children (child trafficking & child labor)
- Reduces violence
- Improves health by reducing diseases, access to medical care, and overall awareness of personal health & hygiene practices
- Promotes girls’ and women’s rights
- Reduces teen pregnancy rates
The opportunity to go school not only changes the life of the student, it impacts the entire family unit, and the broader community.
A clear example of this can be seen in the Dominican Republic. After consistent feedback and requests from people in the community, we began a preschool program with a focus on younger siblings of students already enrolled in our primary or secondary school program. As with all of our schools, once a child is accepted, they are guaranteed a spot each school year, until they finish secondary school.
This simple step has empowered hundreds of families and has been transformational for the entire community. You see, when you open the doors of education to children as young as 2 or 3 years old, you’re not only giving them a head start on a much needed educational foundation, you are also providing a safe space for parents to bring their young kids…a safe space that provides a nutritious meal…a safe space that allows that parent to go out and earn a living knowing their child is well cared for.
This is especially impactful in single-parent households, setting the stage for the seemingly unbreakable cycle of poverty to end.
16 YEARS OF IMPACT THROUGH EDUCATION
Since 2015, over 7,000 children have received an education, and 184 teachers have been employed, because of your support. This school year alone, we increased impact in all areas across the communities we serve. Check out our 2024 annual report for a detailed look at this year’s numbers.
But it’s not just about what happens in the classroom.
Going to school means hot meals, clean water, and access to medical care.
While in school, students receive up to two warm and nutritious meals… for parents struggling to feed their children (not to mention themselves) this is a huge relief.
In some communities, our schools are one of the few places children have access to clean water. Allowing children unrestricted access to clean water during the school day makes significant improvements to their overall health.
In the Dominican Republic, our students have access to free dental, medical, and mental health care services from trained and licensed providers. In most cases, the providers are alumni of the school, and offer services to students and families as a way to give back to the community.
Going to school means learning about God’s love.
Our education programs teach children the good news of Jesus in a way that is meaningfully integrated into their overall education. Faith is woven into the curriculum, as Bible classes and chapel services are part of their regular education. Beyond the classroom, students are connected with local churches and guided by faith-based mentors who walk alongside them, helping them grow spiritually and personally. This holistic approach ensures that every child not only receives a quality education but also develops a strong, lasting relationship with God.
Going to school means a chance to play sports, try new hobbies, and enjoy being a kid.
On average, more than half of our students participate in after-school programs, supervised by staff and teachers, such as sports, music, tech, and more!
Ensuring children participate in these sorts of activities allows positive outlets for energy and emotions, teaches teamwork, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
Additionally, school-based sports programs allow superior student athletes to participate in organized sports teams and leagues, providing opportunities that otherwise would not be available.
We Believe in Education
As we close the 2024 – 2025 school year here in the United States, we ask for your continued support and commitment to ending extreme poverty through your participation in our Believe campaign. Our goal is to fund 20 new classrooms, serving up to 400 students, and providing stable, well-paying jobs for at least 20 teachers.
To do this, we need to raise at least $200,000 in a short amount of time. And we know, because of people like you, this is possible.
This year, however, our ask is a bit different. Not only are we looking for direct donations (always welcome!), we are hoping to make it a family affair.
Over the next few months, we will be sharing tools and resources to not only talk to your children about poverty, but also allow them the chance to become active participants in the fight to end global poverty. Stay tuned for more as we kick off our summer series, Doing Good is Simple, in a few weeks!
For now, learn more about why We Believe in Education, and meet some of the students whose lives have been forever changed through your giving.