Why The Build School In Africa Campaign Is So Important

By Tara Daniels


Issues around the provision of aid to less developed regions of the world has been quite prominent in current affairs lately. Turbulent financial circumstances within donor nations has prompted sectors of the public to query if the needs of their own countries should not come first. The future of projects like The build school in Africa have a important place in this debate.

Some people fear that financial support sometimes will not get to the people for whom it is meant. The causes for this vary considerably depending on the type of charity and where in the world it is operating.

Corrupt officials are one of the problems. Reports that financial aid and materials may be redirected towards illegal dealings, make many people reluctant to donate. Incidents of goods such as grains and oils going missing and finding their way onto underground markets are common. Of course where there is cash involved there is always the potential for corrupt and fraudulent practices to occur. The contrast between people struggling to survive and their leaders living a life of luxury is of very deep concern.

Military conflict is sometimes occurs within and between poorer countries. In such periods international aid materials have been known to be hijacked by one party and literally used as a means to blackmail others in the conflict. Natural phenomena such as earthquakes, floods or hurricanes also severely impact against getting aid to where it is needed.

The question that frequently also gets asked is why, after countless years of providing aid, do things never seem to get better. One solution can be found in the old proverb that says if you give a man a fish, then you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. If there is not a serious educational thrust at the center of our aid programs, then the cycle of dependency will never be broken.

It is true to say that simply educating people will not immediately change things and the need for food programs and medical care during times of crisis, will still continue for some time. Similarly the amazing efforts of those conducting inoculation programs will probably still have to continue for some time to come.

Yet if the aim is to develop people to the point of self sufficiency, of determining their own destinies, then the educational route must be the answer. Yet little attention is given to this pursuit an funding for armies often exceeds that of educational works. Such military funding regularly serves only to support what would otherwise be a crumbling despotic or dictatorial system. No emphasis is given by these systems to creating nation building leaders in technology, business, medicine, agriculture and of course most vitally, teaching.

These are complex issues which will take time to fix, but if they are to be solved, the answers must surely be in hands of the educators. An effective tiered system will enlighten and inspire people, enabling them to see a brighter future. For these reasons The build school in Africa project is so critical.




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