Across our shared world the future of children is shaped by their ability to receive safe, secure, steady, and lovingly supported education.
For children at risk forced out of school due to circumstances beyond their control – poverty, conflict, or other types of crisis – restoring schooling, especially at early childhood level, is critical.
Why? Because when a child is able to return to school, not only is hope and possibility unlocked in their life, the community ecosystem operationally, financially, and emotionally is reactivated, keeping families and communities safe, strong and hopeful.
The Anita Mendiratta Foundation works in tourism-dependent countries to rebuild communities after crises, focusing on restoring early childhood education. Through partnerships with local organisations AMF is able to reactivate community ecosystems through schooling, making a world of difference for families and communities across the world.
Millions of children around the world still lack access to education.
An estimated 1 out of 8 children are out of school in 2024.
Data provided by UNESCO
![Priority SDGs (1) Priority SDGs](https://6zk5ec.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Priority-SDGs-1.png)
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global initiative to create a more equitable, just, and sustainable world. Introduced in 2015 by the United Nations, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development outlines 17 goals to achieve this vision. AMF focuses on advancing four key SDGs: Quality Education (SDG 4), Gender Equality (SDG 5), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).
![Education – The Biggest Teacher In Crisis Recovery](https://6zk5ec.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ismail-salad-osman-hajji-dirir-v7FT5ngIEfA-unsplash-1-1080x675.jpg)
Education – The Biggest Teacher In Crisis Recovery
Why does early childhood education matter? Because hope matters. Because confidence matters. Because opportunity matters.
Education is at the heart of The Anita Mendiratta Foundation (AMF). It drives everything we do. As outlined in the UK Charity Commission, our mission is to support ‘the advancement of education in developing communities around the world with the aim of remobilisation of communities when they are in recovery stage following crisis events.’
Sadly however, in the context of a crisis, it doesn’t usually come to mind. Yet education is often a vital cornerstone to a successful recovery from a crisis.
Speaking to Grace Towler, Co-Lead of Global Projects at AMF and a former educator, we discussed more on why education is at the heart of what we do.
WHAT MAKES EDUCATION SO IMPORTANT FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND THEIR COMMUNITY?
“Education is so much more than simply a tool to meet the needs for basic job qualification. It goes well beyond just academic learning, education teaches a child to observe, understand and comprehend. Education provides a roadmap to help guide them in how to approach life. By having safe access to schooling, a child can truly blossom mentally, emotionally, socially and physically.
Ultimately, education doesn’t just provide stability, financial security and opportunities. It inspires curiosity, it increases a child’s confidence and it teaches kindness. Education is the key all children need and deserve to unlock both their own and their communities future potential.”
SO, HOW DOES EDUCATION LINK TO CRISIS?
“When crisis hits, one of the first pillars to fall, and last to be rebuilt, is education. Rightly, the initial focus is on rebuilding the physical foundations and restarting the economy. But without a safe place for children to go to each day, the adults within the community are unable to rebuild these key pillars.
It is usual practice after a crisis for schools to become a location for make-shift refugee camps.
Although this may be the only safe building for people to shelter, it not only takes away the children’s access to actual education, but also safe childcare. Once again preventing the adults from rebuilding key infrastructure.
From the perspective of the little ones, having the routine of a school-day brings back a vital sense of normality. When crisis hits, children often lose everything they know, need and love. So for many, education can offer the security they so desperately need, the stability of teachers, of school friends and the day-to-day routine education brings.
When all this is taken into account, it’s clear to see just how important the rebuilding of educational infrastructure is. Education can often be the first spark needed to ignite the hope, promise and resources needed by communities to recover from crisis.”
WHAT ABOUT EDUCATION BEYOND RECOVERY, CAN IT PREVENT FUTURE CRISIS?
“Education is absolutely crucial in preventing future crises. It teaches children vital concepts such as peace, equality, tolerance, empathy and sustainability. A school can provide the grounds to bridge the gap between different ethnic groups, helping to erode long-standing cultural differences and discord that can lead to conflict.
Education empowers children by providing them with the knowledge they need to protect themselves by identifying signs of future potential disasters. In each classroom there could be future scientists, artists, adventurers and leaders who will transform their communities, but they all require a safe, secure place to learn and flourish.
As one of our greatest leaders so eloquently said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” – President Nelson Mandela.”
Join us – be a part of re-inspiring hope, opportunity and possibility. #AMFCallToAction
![7C488986-B3A1-41E6-9F35-14E2252C7176-removebg Grace Towler's Signature](https://6zk5ec.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/7C488986-B3A1-41E6-9F35-14E2252C7176-removebg.png)
Grace Towler, Co-Lead on Global Projects.
![AMF – A Call to Action](https://6zk5ec.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AMF-BLOG-PHILIPINES-6-1080x675-1.jpg)
AMF – A Call to Action
A Call to Action
It was one of life’s defining moments.
It was May 2014, six months since Super Typhoon Haiyan had hit the Philippines – Tacloban, to be precise. I was blessed to be in the Philippines on an official UNWTO mission alongside the former Secretary General of the UNWTO, there to examine the damage of Mother Nature’s merciless temper tantrum. The category 5 Super Typhoon had hit just before dawn local time on November 08th 2013, causing unprecedented damage as the system’s one-minute sustained winds of a record 315 km/h battered the sleeping landscape and local community. Along with the catastrophic winds came a storm surge estimated to be between 5m and 7m high.
Nationally, the fury of Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally in the Philippines as Yolanda) impacted more than 14 million Filipinos. More than 6000 lives were lost, over 1.1 million homes turned to rubble, over 33 million coconut trees – a critical source of lives and livelihoods and essential aspect of the landscape – ripped from the ground. The daily work of over 5.9 million was disrupted. The overall damage was over US$ 5.8 billion. In Tacloban an estimated 90% of the city was destroyed.
![Super Typhoon Haiyan Call to Action](https://6zk5ec.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/8.jpg)
These numbers, when you look at them individually and together, are numbing. And yet when the world looks at crises the numbers can become the basis of comparison, the words ‘only’ and ‘just’ often entering the narrative. And yet, so importantly, behind every single number is a heartbeat, that of someone whose life has been turned upside down. The life of someone who has suffered unexpected, undeserved, unimaginable loss. The life of someone who will never look to the future the same again.
Leaving Tacloban on a tiny UN airplane (as the airport was still closed due to severe damage so only official charters were permitted), I turned to the Secretary General, and I asked him “Why are we here? Why are we here when these people need hospitals, they need schools, they need electricity? They don’t need tourism, not right now.” He didn’t look at me – he just continued to stare out of the now airborne aircraft window, far out over the broken landscape. And all I heard were his words, softly spoken: “Because they need to know they were not forgotten.”
Those words have haunted and inspired me since, and they have become the inner voice of the Anita Mendiratta Foundation. Our call to action.
![3](https://6zk5ec.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/3.jpg)
![4](https://6zk5ec.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/4.jpg)
![5](https://6zk5ec.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/5.jpg)
![2](https://6zk5ec.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2.jpg)
![Copy of Copy of AMF-BLOG-PHILIPINES](https://6zk5ec.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Copy-of-Copy-of-AMF-BLOG-PHILIPINES.png)
Our partners
![Street Child logo Street Child logo](https://6zk5ec.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Street-Child-logo.png)
![Humanity and Inclusion logo Humanity and Inclusion logo](https://6zk5ec.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Humanity-and-Inclusion-logo-1.png)
![rotary great britain and ireland logo rotary great britain and ireland logo](https://6zk5ec.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/rotary-great-britain-and-ireland-logo.png)
![adventure aid logo adventure aid logo](https://6zk5ec.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/amf-partner-logos.png)