R4L - Back 2 School

Universal education for all boys and girls

This is what government leaders of 189 countries decided in 2000. In order to ensure that poverty, disease and hunger are reduced by 2015, these 189 leaders agreed upon a list of 8 millennium goals. This goal is number 2.

The status? There is significant progress, but in Sub-Saharan Africa (among other places) its not happening quickly enough. If the current trends prevail, this region will not reach its target by 2015.

In Helenvale, a very poor community near Port Elizabeth, the percentage of children who have left school is very high. The vast majority of children leave school before completing highschool and therefore, lower their chances of a good future. Instead they face poverty, unemployment, HIV and abuse. Children in this impoverished area are likely to grow up with little attention, may have to take care of brothers and sisters, and often must deal with death and crime from a young age. That's why Ready 4 Life, together with the Helvenvale Youth Program, started a program to do something about this.

Through various methods, children in the program are encouraged and inspired to return to school: going into the community, speaking to children and bringing them to school, helping in the classes, fixing up schools, offering homework classes, organizing after-school activities, creating educational activities are all ways in which volunteers make children enthusiastic about learning and school.

If you would like to learn more about Ready 4 Life Back 2 School, please send us an e-mail at info@be-more.org.