Can you imagine how your life would be different if you could not read and write?
Of the strategies for helping people move up out of poverty, education is the most effective. Not only does it expand your understanding of the world around you, but it also informs you of options for improvement in the quality of your life and opens doors to new job opportunities.
According to UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization), in 2010 there were 61 million primary school-age children, 47% were never expected to enter school, 26% entered school but left, and the remaining 27% were expected to attend school in the future. Did you know that 53% of the world’s out-of-school children are girls and 2/3 of the illiterate people in the world are women? The African continent has areas with less than 50% literacy among children ages 18 and under.
When Fr. Balla was here from India, he saw the school supply drive for our HEB School district. He mentioned to us that this would be very helpful to his two schools in India.
June Jovero, who is from the Philippines, is working with a priest who goes by donkey up the mountain sides to start schools for the Indigenous Peoples; these schools are in need.
Joseph Russ, from Liberia, Africa, is associated with three schools in Liberia that are so needy, the students have to bring their chairs on their head to school each day to be able to sit for class. All three of these locations need simple school supplies to use for classes.
We are preparing five sets of materials (Reading, Writing, Math, Art/Music, Sports) for a class size of 25 to 30 students, based on a teacher’s request. We would also like to prepare "something special" for the teachers. We will concentrate on items for pre-school, elementary, middle school, and high school.
Items Needed:
BackpacksLunch bagsNumber 2 pencilsHandheld pencil sharpenerErasersBlunt tip/pointed scissorsGlue sticksGlue (4 oz.)TapeCrayonsCrayon sharpenerColored pencilsWatercolor paintPencil box or pencil pouchPens - red, blue, blackHighlighters12-inch rulersWide ruled 1 subject notebookOne subject spiral notebookComposition notebook |
Loose leaf filler paper - wide ruleCollege ruled loose leaf 3-hole paper3 ring binder hole puncherTabbed dividersPaper hole reinforcementsPocket folders3 ring binder or zipper bindersStaplerMarkersRuled index cardsCompass with measuring guideBook coversTissuesAntibacterial hand sanitizerUSB flash drivesCalculators |