The eMerge Foundation Australasia.

What do the kids need?

The kids need as much help as we can give them.
Mr Zoachim Doutel, Principal S Bemetan Government Primary School gives us an illustration.
Students: 300 – 50 students per class
Teachers: 6

Requirements listed as at 2008:

• School rooms - teachers, parents, and children built the traditional house that they currently use. Floor is dirt. No electric light.
• Toilets – no toilets in the school. Children run into the bush.
• Water – all water is piped to the school from the nearest well 4km away.
• Student desks, chairs, blackboards, teacher’s desk.
• Sports Equipment
• Science equipment.
• Pens, pencils, plain exercise books.

Education is central to development.

Education empowers people and strengthens nations. It is a powerful “equalizer”, opening doors to all, to lift themselves out of poverty. Education, as identified by the World Bank, is critical to the world’s attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Investment in education benefits the individual, society, and the world as a whole. Broad-based education of good quality is among the most powerful instruments known to reduce poverty and inequality. With proven benefits for personal health, it also strengthens nations’ economic health by laying the foundation for sustained economic growth. For individuals and nations, it is the key to creating, applying, and spreading knowledge - and ultimately to the development of dynamic, globally competitive economies. It is fundamental for the construction of democratic societies – Source: World Bank report September 2000 United Nations Summit.