International Day of Education: Supporting Growth and Building Community During COVID-19
At Himalayan Institute Humanitarian Projects, we partner with rural communities to provide health services, public libraries, and sustainable employment opportunities across the Northwest Region of Cameroon. We love the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded organizations that share our values of education and community, and we are excited to be one of Sahoja’s Impact Partners.
Today, on the 24th of January, the International Day of Education is being recognized around the world in celebration of the key role education plays in the cultivation of peace and development. The theme for 2021, ‘Recover and Revitalize Education for the COVID-19 Generation,’ raises awareness of the exacerbated need for inclusive and equitable education during the global pandemic and in its aftermath.
Education is central to the work we do in the Northwest Region of Cameroon, and today we invite you to join us in celebrating this observance day and helping to build a world where education is an equal opportunity for all.
Cameroon has been in a state of civil unrest for the last four years, and as a result, many schools have been shut down. This has left a gap in the education sector, with 346,513 primary school age children out of school in 2019. (Source: Worldbank) COVID-19 further marginalized families who had little-to-no access to education prior to the pandemic.
Investing in educational opportunities for children is paramount to the work we do, knowing that their success will be passed on to future generations. The objective of our Public Library Program — our vast network of public libraries that encompasses all of our education initiatives — is to shore up the current gap in education by bringing books and learning opportunities to children throughout the region.
Since 2016, Yao Harumiyan Fonyuy has been leading the program and sharing his enthusiasm for education with thousands of children. He manages after-school programs, children’s literacy courses, computer training programs, spelling bees, and summer education programs. Equally important as sharing knowledge and teaching useful skills, Yao is also helping to foster connection through community building, and planting seeds for a lifelong love for learning.
Throughout our 14 years of service in Cameroon, we have witnessed the power of education to create lasting, meaningful change and have seen how creating educational opportunities where gaps exist drives progress and development. When we invest in growing the minds of children, we’re investing in the future of humanity and empowering communities for generations to come. That’s something to celebrate.
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At Himalayan Institute Humanitarian Projects, we are giving people the tools to make positive changes in their lives, as we inspire, educate, and empower all who seek to experience their full potential.
Himalayan Institute Humanitarian Projects is honored to be partnering with Sahoja to fund health consultations for women, children, and their families in remote villages throughout the Northwest Region of Cameroon. Learn how you can donate a free one-on-one health consultation here.
Author Bio:
Naomi Schademan has spent the last three years in residence at the Himalayan Institute’s headquarters in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, immersed in the study and practice of yoga. With an educational background in English Writing and Global Studies, Naomi joined the humanitarian team to focus on communications and development. She teaches yoga classes at the Himalayan Institute, for Pure Rejuv Wellness Center’s ayurvedic and wellness retreats, and in the local community.
