THE PROBLEM IS TWOFOLD.

1 –

Children are not learning. Over 59 million children will not go to school this year—half of them live in sub-Saharan Africa. Of the nearly 30 million elementary-age children who are out-of-school, half have never stepped foot in a classroom. Girls are impacted far more than boys, accounting for 55% of out-of-school children. In Tanzania, girls are more likely to become child brides than they are to attend high school.

2 –

School alone is not enough. In sub-Saharan Africa, where STS is concentrating its efforts, only half of students are likely to meet international learning standards. The average class size is 42 and sometimes exceeds 200. Many teachers do not earn enough to bring their families out of poverty, and 40% of children are stunted from malnutrition. In Tanzania, less than 14% of the population has access to electricity, and only 3% has a flush toilet. In conditions like these, even the most gifted children struggle to do well in school.

To succeed in school, children not only need good teachers but sufficient health, nourishment, and support from their families and communities.

STS’s SOLUTION

For 15 years, School-to-School International (STS) has been developing the Whole Child Model—a holistic approach to education based on the understanding that for students to thrive, their basic needs must be fulfilled. Rooted in years of research and professional experience, the Model focuses on three areas of need—education, health, and community engagement—so that all children can learn more effectively.

Since 2002, STS has partnered with 36 schools in Guinea to support more than 8,000 students through interactive learning, local language instruction, teacher training, and girls’ empowerment. We have developed school health policies, provided medical supplies, and constructed wells and latrines. And we have trained school managers, deepened parental involvement, and hosted cross-cultural learning opportunities to increase community engagement in education. This year we’re expanding to Tanzania.

BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION.

Your commitment to STS’s Whole Child Model can help students learn and stay healthy with the support of their communities. With your donation, they can thrive.