Education is a powerful tool capable of creating sustainable peace across the globe. Our world needs a message of peace now more than ever and education can nurture connections between people, communities and nations. For the past 40 years, members of Humana People to People have invested in training qualified and professional primary school teachers, and youth through operating vocational schools benefiting tens of thousands disadvantaged people in the global south.
Each year, 24 January is International Day of Education. In 2024, the theme is “Learning for Lasting Peace”. It calls for transformative learning as education is the foundation for peace, solidarity, inclusiveness and sustainable development.
Promotion of peace through education is at the core of what we do as Humana People to People together with our members.
Globally, there is widespread instability driven by conflicts, wars and climate change, contributing to internal displacement, loss of life, fragmented communities and many forms of human strife. Most of the instability at the centre of the human conflicts impact children and women living in disadvantaged communities affected by multi-dimensions of poverty.
Exclusion and inequity hinder the potential to increase access to quality education for all. We prioritise working together with communities living in some of the most difficult situations as we contribute to government efforts in sub-Saharan Africa and India in giving access to education.
We believe everyone has the right to access inclusive and quality education regardless of their background. We value education and learning as a continuous lifelong transformative process to create more knowledge for taking action. Learning for lasting peace is part of our Humana People to People pedagogy. We inspire people to become active participants in positively transforming their communities. We train primary school teachers and youths across Africa and Asia with the necessary knowledge, values and skills to become agents of peace building in their communities.
Our teacher training programme trains young people to become primary school teachers, primarily in rural areas. Apart from teaching skills, they also acquire other skills that enable them to become agents of change in their communities as part of spearheading community development. Since 1993, more than 60,000 primary school teachers have graduated from our teachers training colleges in Africa and Asia.
We invest in youth skills training in the global South. Currently, our members are running seven schools for vocational training and eight schools for polytechnic training at lower secondary level in seven countries of sub-Saharan Africa. All courses are structured to respond to the local labour market and entrepreneurship needs. ADPP Angola operate eight Polytechnic Schools that offer a three-year lower secondary education combined with training in a defined profession. In total more than 30,000 youths have graduated from Humana People to People vocational schools. 30,000 youths who are empowered with capacity to find decent jobs or create own enterprises.
These are examples of Humana People to People contributions to lasting peace. Capable and caring teachers, and youth who can see a future of hope and production, because they have the skills to create that future.
