On this International Literacy Day, Bread and Water for Africa® celebrates the power of literacy and the dignity of learning. With every school desk delivered, we are not just furnishing classrooms—we are unlocking opportunity, hope, and brighter futures for Africa’s children.
Since 1967, the annual celebrations of International Literacy Day (ILD) have taken place on September 8 around the world to remind policy-makers, practitioners, and the public of the critical importance of literacy for creating a more literate, just, peaceful, and sustainable society, notes UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
“Literacy is a fundamental human right for all. It opens the door to the enjoyment of other human rights, greater freedoms, and global citizenship,” states UNESCO. “Literacy is a foundation for people to acquire broader knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and behaviors to foster a culture of lasting peace based on respect for equality and non-discrimination, the rule of law, solidarity, justice, diversity, and tolerance, and to build harmonious relations with oneself, other people, and the planet.”
However, UNESCO points out that despite progress, at least 739 million youth and adults worldwide still lacked basic literacy skills in 2024. At the same time, 4 in 10 children are not reaching minimum proficiency in reading, and 272 million children and adolescents were out of school in 2023.
At Bread and Water for Africa®, we recognize that in several regions across Africa, where educational resources are often scarce, supplying school desks has proven to be a pragmatic and effective strategy for enhancing educational quality. This initiative has been shown to improve health, attendance, and academic performance among students. Therefore, Bread and Water for Africa® collaborates with The Reuse Networks to deliver school desks to African educational institutions that lack adequate classroom furnishings.
Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of children in Ethiopia and Sierra Leone lack access to proper education. Bread and Water for Africa® is currently working in these countries to support students’ education. We aim to provide 1,000 combined school desks to both Ethiopia and Sierra Leone, creating a more conducive learning environment for students.
Working with our partner in Ethiopia, the Amhara Development Association (ADA), headquartered in Fasilo Sub-City, Bahir Dar, Amhara Region, requested “a vital school furniture support initiative” targeting two public primary schools – Addis Alem and Hibret – located in Gondar City.
“These schools serve low-income communities and face significant infrastructure and educational challenges, particularly in classroom furniture and learning environment quality,” says Kidist Tekabe, who is overseeing the project.
She reported that the Addis Alem Primary School has recently established a dedicated ICT (Integrated Co-Teaching) classroom with the vision of empowering students and youths through digital literacy. The objective is to equip students to become qualified, confident, and financially self-reliant
“However, due to financial constraints, the school has been unable to furnish this room with the required desks and chairs, rendering the facility underutilized,” she told us.
Hibret Primary School, on the other hand, is a historically significant institution established over 84 years ago.
“Despite its longstanding role in educating generations of students, the school has never undergone a major maintenance or furniture upgrade,” Kidist said.
“As a result, most classroom furniture is broken or outdated, with some classes accommodating five or more students per desk.
“This has negatively impacted student attendance, engagement, and academic performance.”
As a result of receiving 500 combined desks, Kidist said that it will allow for the full utilization of the ICT room at Addis Alem for digital learning, the replacement of dilapidated furniture at Hibret and overall, an “improved classroom environment for over 1,200 students (ages 6-18, 50 percent of who are girls) thereby improving attendance, reducing overcrowding and supporting academic success.”
Another of our partners in Ethiopia, Haramaya University (HU), reported in July the facilitation of 729 combined desks from Bread and Water for Africa® that were distributed to three kindergarten schools in Maya City and the Haramaya University community school kindergarten in Dire Dawa.
“Education is the cornerstone of sustainable development, and it begins with the youngest members of our society,” reported HU.
“At Haramaya University, we believe that every child, regardless of where they are born, deserves access to a safe, conducive, and well-equipped learning environment.
“Nevertheless, learning facilities and equipment in Ethiopia’s schools are scarce, making the learning environment unattractive for students, particularly at the early childhood level.
“The primary objective of the distribution was to enhance the learning environment of kindergarten and lower primary students by providing safe, child-friendly, and durable school furniture. This initiative aims to reduce classroom overcrowding and improve seating arrangements for young learners… and to help improve the learning conditions for these bright young minds.”
And in Sierra Leone, Rural Youth Development Organization-Sierra Leone (RYDO-SL) program director Joseph Kobba reported in June that 659 combined school desks from Bread and Water for Africa® were distributed to four primary and two junior secondary schools in the Bumpe Ngao Chiefdom of Bo District, benefiting 1,330 students, “who appreciate the Americans’ support of the Sierra Leone education program.
“Investing in children’s education lays a solid foundation for sustainable development.”
