We are pleased to report that the current number of students attending the 10 Magic Future Foundation schools built in 2020 is: 3,469. That number includes 1,893 girls - meaning that currently an outstanding 55% of students at MFF schools are female!
Since the construction of those schools, our build partner BuildOn has been working to enrol children that were previously out-of-school or dropped out because of issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Included in the total of 3,469 students within the Magic Future Schools are 276 previously out-of-school children. The reasons that students dropout of school range from economic reasons (their family couldn’t afford school supplies or a uniform) to education issues (parents not valuing the education of girls or education period).
BuildOn and Magic Future Foundation then help provide school supplies for children in need, income generating opportunities for families to help give them long-term sustainable options for supporting their children’s education, and education for parents about the importance of sending their children, especially girls to school.
One income generating opportunity that we help with is supplying goats to families to help supplement their incomes and get their children back in school. The families can breed and sell the goats to support themselves; however, when the goats first reproduce the parents also have to donate one offspring to another community member so that everyone has a chance to benefit. In Mphowe a total of 102 out-of-school children (54 girls) were enrolled back in classes via this scheme!
When the children can return back to school; to help get the children caught up on the education they have missed, we provide accelerated learning courses during their school breaks. When these courses are complete the students then return to their mainstream education. Our sustainable school systems help break the poverty cycle one school at a time.
The sustainability and success of the schools is due to a unique proven approach and partnership between buildOn, local government and the community. Equal numbers of girls and boys are educated, and many schools operate adult education programs. We are so proud that we do not just build a school and then hope for the best. Working with BuildOn we are able to continue to help the schools and students thrive for years to come!