Education Is My Beacon!

Tourists gather at the entrance to the safari, chatting with one another. They’re eager to begin the day’s tour; excited to see the renowned natural beauty of Tanzania. But when their guide begins to speak, they fall respectfully silent.

The guide is young, but poised and professional. She fields questions from the group, effortlessly flowing between French and English to accommodate the different nationalities. The tourists can’t help but be impressed – not just with her knowledge, but with her passion.

And Beatrice is pretty proud of herself, too.

Back in the present, Beatrice, age 12, smiles to herself before turning her attention back to her homework. Her dream – to become a tour guide, and make a good living while sharing the natural beauty of her country – is still a few years away. But the dream has never felt more real than it does right now.

School brought more challenges. Most of the students – and teachers – were in the same situation as Beatrice. The classroom was overcrowded. Teachers were using outdated materials and methods. Clean, running water was a nonexistent luxury. Hunger and illness kept even the most diligent students from reaching their full potential.

Still, Beatrice clung to her dream. She worked diligently in school and at home, hoping that her persistence would pay off.

And thanks to Feed the Children’s donors, it did!

Because of support from caring individuals, Feed the Children was able to set up programs to support education holistically in Beatrice’s community. A school meal program gave students the food they needed to focus in class. Handwashing stations and water collection stations were implemented to improve hygiene. Educators were given up-to-date information on teaching methods, and those benefits were passed down to the students in turn.

These programs will help all Beatrice’s peers, but are especially beneficial for the female students. According to UNICEF, women who complete their secondary education earn twice as much as those who don’t. They’re less likely to experience teenage pregnancy, and the health complications that follow.

For Beatrice, your support lit a path to a better life.

“Education is my beacon,” she says happily.