“Education plays a crucial role in achieving the SDGs by promoting gender equality, reducing poverty and conserving the environment”

This comment from Franciscah, one of the child ambassadors and member of the SDGs Academy for children set the tone of our conversation for the Day of the African Child commemorations, in line with its theme – Education for all children in Africa – the time is now.

The virtual conversation with 20 people including 11 children and their parents/caregivers presented a space not only to share the crucial role of education for children in Africa but also a space and opportunity to emphasize on the need to have every child in Africa access to holistic and quality education.

Speaking at the virtual hangout conversation, Fred Nyabera, Director of Arigatou International – End Child Poverty called for more investments in education that not only imparts knowledge but also instills values, virtues, and skills for children in Africa.

“Let’s commit to creating an educational framework that empowers our children to build a brighter, more prosperous future for all. Every child in Africa should have access to a holistic and quality education” he said.

Throughout the conversation, children shared the crucial role of education in their lives, communities and specifically how education could accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Understandably, education permeates all SDGs but of interest to children within the conversation was SDGs – 1 (No Poverty), 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), 5 (Gender Equality) and 13 (Climate Action) as SDGs whose implementation would be accelerated given access to quality education for children.

“Education impacts us in the way that it helps and enables us to gain knowledge and understanding to be able to live healthy, prevention of soil erosion, help to stop pollution and end gender discrimination” Raymond, participating child.

The Day of the African Child is celebrated every year on June 16. At Arigatou International, we view its commemoration as an opportunity to amplify the needs and aspirations of African children. It also presents us an opportunity to demonstrate our work and results towards ending child poverty and achieving the SDGs in general.