They have a right to an Education

“Education is the great engine of personal development.” 

–  Nelson Mandela

Human Rights Day, observed on December 10th, marks the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. 

This landmark document affirms the inherent rights and freedoms every individual is entitled to, including the fundamental right to education.

Despite this recognition, education remains inaccessible to millions of children worldwide. UNESCO reports that nearly 245 million children and youth are still out of school, while 617 million children and adolescents lack basic literacy and numeracy skills. Additionally, less than 40% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary education, highlighting the urgent need for action to bridge these gaps.

The Transformative Power of Education

At ACT, we are dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by vulnerable children by empowering them through education. Our mission is to ensure that fatherless children and marginalised orphans across 8 sub-Saharan African countries where we work, have access to their fundamental right to education.

Since our formation in 1998 with our first beneficiary, Christine, in Chingola, Zambia, we have made significant progress. Over the years, we have provided more than 8,000 children with education and welfare support, thereby fostering opportunities for growth and learning. 

We take immense pride in the accomplishments of our 205 beneficiary boys and girls, who have graduated with university degrees or diplomas, a number that continues to grow as we extend our reach. Through our sustained efforts and continued support from individual and corporate donors, we remain committed to providing even more children with the tools and opportunities they need to build a brighter future

Our community development programmes in Africa are based on a collaborative approach. We have to-date supported 27 schools across 5 of the African countries where we work, namely Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia, in the area of educational learning and carried out projects in water, sanitation and health, ensuring that students have a safe and conducive space to thrive. Our Dignity for Girls (Period Poverty) project which provides reusable menstrual pads locally produced by ACT widows in-country, has benefitted about six thousand (6,000) girls in Nigeria and Malawi.

Meet Lucas, an ACT beneficiary

Lucas grew up in a remote village in Tanzania. After losing his father he faced immense challenges, and without the means to continue his education, his future seemed uncertain. 

It was in 2015, after he lost his father and his mother could not pay his school fees that ACT supported Lucas then in secondary school and provided him with the necessary resources to complete his studies. He then went on to study for a diploma in Human Resource Management and graduated in 2023. Lucas secured a position as a Collateral Inspector at an organisation working with major financial institutions.

Lucas speaks of his own journey, telling us:

“It would not have been possible to reach this stage of life without God’s grace and ACT’s intervention and unwavering support.”
“I am deeply grateful for the advice and encouragement from ACT project officers and the sponsorship that helped me through my studies.”

– Lucas, 2024

With the help of our wonderful supporters, ACT has been able to support many other children and young people like Lucas through education.

Your Support Can Change at least one Life

It was the sponsorship of £15 a month by one of our supporters that enabled Lucas to complete secondary school and a grant from a supporting church that enabled him to complete the 3 year higher national diploma. You also can make a difference by sponsoring one of our many children in Africa that need a sponsor. Your support of £15 a month will pay school fees, provide school materials and daily school meal to help your sponsored child stay on in school so that they can reach their potential in life.

Please click to donate or Sponsor a Child Today.