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The World's Biggest Lesson: Education is the Answer

Led by Mothers Acting Up and Karambu Ringera

Children at Creekside Elementary gathered in the school gym to take part in raising awareness to fact that 72 million children in the world will not see the inside of a classroom this year. It's easy to take school for granted in Boulder, CO. Class sizes at Creekside are at 18 children, give or take one or two, and every class has a full time teacher with a parent assistance. However, Creekside is uniquely different:  over 30 languages are spoken at the the school and students come from every continent except Antarctica.

The event started with the 4th grade class singing a song entitled, "Agents of Change." Youth leaders Chelsea Allen,  Lily Shafroth, Max Raderstorf, and Courtney Hook spoke about the importance of education. A 5th grade student at Creekside, Courtney walked 6 miles round trip to last year's event and spoke this year of her experience in a nice warm gymnasium due to a Colorado Spring snow storm. She shared that for the last four years she and her brothers have sponsored 3 children from Zimbabwe, which has spread to getting her cousins involved, "and if I can get my cousins to do it, why can't the people of the United States talk to our political leaders about giving all the countries around the world that need help with school, money or at least books."

Max, an 8th grader at Manhattan, focused specifically on the children in the audience, letting them know that education is important for them as well. "You will be the ones who grow up some day to be the teachers, doctors, decision-makers and perhaps even the President of the United States."   Max's words met lots of gasps and excitement.

Karambu spoke in a tag team fashion with her American colleague, Dr. Gary Lichtenstein. Asking children to raise their hands if "they think they will go to school next year," a gymnasium full of children raised their hands. When posing the question for children in Kenya in a simulated exercise, Dr. Gary asked only the children in the first two rows to raise their hands. Eyes were big and became bigger as it was explained that in Kenya, one teacher has 100 students to teach. Children were fully engaged listening to stories of Dr. Karambu walking 45 minutes each way to class and the punishments that would be received if she were late, including sweeping the dirt floor school room.

After hearing the inspirational and educational words of the speakers, all were invited to join hands --in large, snake-like serpent fashion -- to be counted. One by one each child declared their number into the microphone. In the end over 343 children, teachers and parents joined to be counted, standing to bring a common value and a basic human right to all the world's children. The event empowered children in the US, who in turn hope to empower children around the world through education and opportunity.

Before the students of Creekside went back to focusing on their own education, each student signed a giant letter to U.S. Senator Ken Salazar asking for his support to fund the bi-partisan Education for All Act, S.1259, introduced by Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR). "This legislation calls for $1 billion in global basic education funding for FY 2008 to aid developing countries in ensuring all children attend school and to make education a higher priority of U.S. foreign assistance. Experts in all fields agree, education is the answer in creating a more secure world."

A visit was also made to Flatirons Elementary school 5th and 1st grade students. The older students enjoyed having an opportunity to share the service projects they have engaged in over the course of their elementary years. The younger students enjoying singing common songs sung by children in Kenya. One of the 5th grade teachers, CJ Holloway shared, "The lesson today about how to value our education was so appropriate.  Children in America need to see how very fortunate they are.  I applaud your efforts and truly appreciate your visit today."

A huge thanks to Global Campaign for Education for your inspiration and most importantly the work you are doing to ensure education for all children by the year 2015.

In spirited partnership,
Joellen Raderstorf
Co-founder of Mothers Acting Up

Courtney Hook’s speech:

Hi my name is Courtney Hook and my brothers and I have each been paying $35 a year to pay for 2 girls and 1 boy to go to school in Zimbabwe for the past 4 years. We have talked to our cousins about sending a child to school and now they want to do it too. If I can get my cousins to do it why can’t the people of the United States talk to our Political Leaders about giving all the countries around the world that need help with school, money or at least books for the schools already there.

Most kids have to walk a long way just to get to school. Some kids might be able to afford school, but their school is too far away to walk to. But most kid can’t afford to go to school at all.

My school, Creekside, had a book drive and we filled a whole trailer with books that are going to be shipped to Kenya by the Global Education Fund. I am sure that the children who receive those books are going to be very happy.

At my school we received a new 10 year-old student.  She is from Africa and she had never in her life been to school or even seen a book.  Every time I see her she has a big smile on her face. 

I believe that going to school is a right not a privilege. This is the second year I have walked with my school to CU to stand up for children that aren’t able to go to school all over the world.  I think that it is important that every one is able to go to school because it takes a very important role in a person’s life. I am sure that some kids think that kids who can’t go to school are lucky.  But really, going to school is much better than staying home because all day those kids work and if they aren’t working then there’s nothing to do.

I am fortunate enough to be able to go see poverty in Bangladesh next year. I have been taught that one person can make a big difference in the world and I believe that, and I hope to be that person, and if you work hard enough then you could be that person too.