This week Brad L. Brasseur looks into the importance of investing in education in a developing country such as Peru. He explains why his NGO is focused heavily on improving the education level of the people of Flora Tristan.
In this article, I am going to focus on the reasons why HOOP concentrates on using education as a tool to help the people of Flora Tristan. Education is our main focus as it is a key to lifting people out of poverty. Education gives people in poverty the skills to not only earn money but also improve their basic daily knowledge. It is a sustainable tool that does not only help someone for one day but rather a lifetime and can be passed down to generations.
According to a recent study by the Ministry of Education in Peru, there are 1,300,000 illiterate people and another half million people without completed primary education in Peru today. Furthermore, a recent study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) further highlighted Peru’s weak education system by ranking them last of the 65 countries that they studied from around the world.
For a country with one of the world’s largest mining industries and a robust tourist industry their education system is inexplicable low.
HOOP Peru is working hard to change this number and to keep breaking the cycle of poverty through enhancing education.
Higher Earning Capability
A higher education gives a person increased skills and the ability to find higher paying jobs that brings increased income to their family. For example someone with English skills in Arequipa can find a job in the bustling international tourist industry here. The importance of English in Arequipa will not only get someone into a better University but will also open up their opportunities to work overseas and send remittances back to their family in Peru. This is a main reason why HOOP’s current largest educational program is teaching English to the Flora Tristan community.
How long is your country's average duration until you get your degree? >>https://t.co/Sl3RUXaa3g pic.twitter.com/NkguMEERpj
— Volunteer World (@volunteerworld) December 2, 2015
Health Benefits
Education allows people in developing countries such as Peru to prevent diseases because educated people are more likely to decipher from good and bad health habits. In addition, educated mothers can give their children a healthier upbringing. The mothers are much more aware of what healthy food their children need and vaccinations that are vital for their children’s development.
In sum, by working on education programs in the Flora Tristan community, HOOP is trying to teach the people to support themselves.
We want to give them the education tools to improve their health and income so they can improve their whole family’s quality of life.
This is why our current priorities are developing the Flora Tristan community, and ensuring strategic educational programs where people of all ages can advance their education, health, self-confidence and better their quality of life.
Nelson Mandela was a man who knew the importance of education as he once stated:
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.