African children represent the hope of the continent, and I say this with all the
confidence that I can muster. I am certain of this because, of the 1.3 billion people
on the continent, 50% are young people and children below the age of 18. Sadly,
most of these children have had to endure harsh conditions as a result of war,
government apathy, corruption and poverty.
Thankfully, there are a number of organisations who have made it their goal to
emancipate the average African child. We will give credit to some of these
organisations in this article.
- Save the Children Nigeria:
Save the children Nigeria was formed in the year 2001 with the goal of literally
saving the Nigerian child. In their words, their mission is ‘to ensure all children
survive, learn and are protected.’ They do this by improving children’s access to
good quality education, providing a safe space for traumatized children to heal, and
improving access to quality healthcare for children. They’ve paid their dues, and
hence, deserve some accolades.
- Tanzanian Children’s Fund:
The Tanzanian children’s fund is a non-governmental organization that was founded
by Peter Leon Mmassy and India Howell, with the aim of creating a home for
children in Tanzania, building their future and transforming their communities.
Their core principle is to put children ‘first, last and forever’. We know that
they’ve kept their promise, as they have made significant impacts in the lives of
children in Tanzania by investing in their health, education, and communities.
- Ubuntu Education Fund:
The Ubuntu Education Fund is a non-profit organization, based in South Africa,
that caters to the needs of orphaned and vulnerable children. They were founded
in 1999, and since then, have offered health and educational assistance to over
2,000 children. In their words, ‘Ubuntu’s mission is simple, all-encompassing, yet
radical: to help raise township children by providing what all children
- World Vision Africa:
World Vision Africa is a Christian, child-focused, community-empowering, global
organization whose mission is to give hope, joy, and justice to all children. Because
of the work that World Vision does, ‘every 60 seconds, a family gets water, a
hungry child is fed, and a family receives the tools to overcome poverty.’ World
Vision Africa is a subsidiary of World Vision International, and I think that we can
all agree that they are doing God’s work.
- United Nations International Children Emergency Fund:
UNICEF is relentless in her bid to ensure that the rights of children all over the
world are upheld. They operate in over 190 countries and territories around the
world, and work to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfil
their potential. They do this by tackling social and environmental issues like: child
protection and development, climate change, and gender equality.
- Little Light Uganda:
This non governmental organization is located in the slums of Uganda. They were
founded in 2007 by locals from the Namuwongo community to afford kids in that
region basic amenities, like access to good education and proper healthcare. They
believe that education is the foundation of every community and are steadfast in
their resolve to grow their community.
- Pan African Girl Child Education Foundation:
The Pan African Girl Child Education Foundation is a non-governmental organization
that is focused on improving the life of the Nigerian girl child, by ensuring that
they get access to good-quality education. They aim to rekindle the hope of every
girl child, so as to assure them of the validity of their dreams.
- Children of Africa:
The Children of Africa Foundation was started in Kenya in the year 2002, with the
aim of helping marginalized children and young people, with particular attention
granted to those of the female gender. The goal for them is to guarantee these
children access to an improved quality of life. To do this, they organize different
vocational training sessions that allow young people to learn computer science,
management, and life skills.
- Able Child Africa:
Able Child Africa is a non-governmental organization whose goal is to change the
lives of children with disabilities. They were founded in 1984 in Uganda, but have
since spread across many countries in Eastern Africa. Able Child Africa ensures
that children living with disabilities are empowered with significant skills that help
them to fulfil their potential.
These guys are empowering the next generation of the African workforce and, we,
at MSwitch, appreciate the work that they’ve done and hope to contribute our own
quota towards the emancipation of the African child.
Do you know some other non-governmental organizations that are focused on