UN Sustainable Development Goals
Our education programmes work in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They focus on ending poverty (Goal 1) through the provision of education to the most deprived children in the Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras and Tanzania.
The programmes provide equitable access for boys and girls (Goal 5) to a live-in place at school from the age of 11 to 18. Here the children receive food, shelter and a quality, accredited academic and technical education which equips them for stable employment after school and a productive future (Goals 2, 3, 4 & 8).
Conservation of the planet’s resources, sustaining the programmes financially into the future and supporting the members of our global community over the long term are key to the way that we work.
Sustainable practices
The schools operate a modest, low cost education model. They educate nearly 20,000 boys and girls each year in 13 live-in schools in six countries worldwide. Economies of scale at each school allow them great efficiencies in running costs – feeding, clothing and educating each child for just £1,000 a year.
A policy of no waste, re-use and recycling is at the core of the programmes. All the vital components needed in the care of the children including clothing, shoes and educational supplies are re-used, re-made or re-imagined for hand down to another child at the schools. This policy helps us to ensure that we minimise consumption and maximise the use of our funds (Goal 12) – providing a good quality education for the maximum number of children and providing value for our donors’ investment in us.
Use of renewable energies like solar to power the schools helps to minimise the environmental impact of the schools and reduce overheads (Goal 7). It ensures more of our donor funding goes to where it is needed – welcoming more children into a place at school. Over the last few years Solar panels at our girls school in Biga, Philippines and most recently the Solar panels at our girls school in Tanzania have provided the energy needed to power the schools and have significantly reduced the utility costs of these programmes.
Responsibility for the environment
Other sustainable initiatives like the new well recently drilled at the Girlstown in Guatemala give the programmes resilience against the climatic impact of drought, ensure a regular supply of water for the schools and reduce costs (Goal 6).
The Sisters promote responsibility for the environment within all their schools, they communicate and reinforce this awareness through teaching with all the children in their care from the youngest day-care children through to graduates aged 18.
The children learn early on about how to grow their own food and the importance of protecting the planet. Many of the children come from agricultural families deeply impacted by the effects of climate change. They are highly motivated to develop their agricultural skills and learn about how to improve rural processes to protect the planet for the future.
More blog posts
19/07/2024
60 years of Every Child’s Birthday
2024 marks 60 years of the Sisters of Mary and Every Child’s Birthday. We reflect on the momentous achievements of the past 60 years.
15/07/2024
Nelson Mandela Day
Nelson Mandela said “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom.”
18/06/2024
Child Food Poverty 2024
Almost 700 million people still live in extreme poverty on less than £1.60 per day. Deprived of food, with only one or two meals a day, children raised in poverty lack the balanced nutrition needed to grow, leading to developmental difficulties, stunted growth and poor long term health.