Dickson and Phillips 1

Terry-Kate Dickson and Elexa Phillips

Mrs. Bustle
English II Honors
15 November 2016
To Give a Child a Book
Imagine a 16 year old girl living in Africa who has to get married in order to go to
secondary school. This girl exists. Her name is Annet Namusuwa (Press). She is not the only
one who has to face these problems. Almost half of the population of kids that are supposed to
be in school have never set foot in a classroom. In Africa, education is a continual issue because
more opportunities are presented to boys than girls, it can lead to poverty, and early marriage; if
people dont help to put an end to this issue, then many innocent children may never get to reach
their full potential.
There are many reasons as to why education is an issue in Africa but, lack of teachers and
facilities, war, and poor and remote areas without essential resources are the main complications.
Shortages of facilities, equipment and materials for children to learn from and lack of teachers
make learning conditions harsh. Some of the children who are fortunate enough to attend school,
go under extreme conditions, such as learning under trees instead of classrooms, hard weather
and dont have basic textbooks to learn from (Ltd). It is difficult for many Americans to
imagine because most are fortunate enough to attend nice schools and get a proper education. In
Africa kids dont have the basic necessities, much less a good education. With that, most of these
children are from poor and remote areas that suffer from war and conflict, they also still practice
child labor which deepens problems (Ltd). War and conflict in addition to child labor take

Dickson and Phillips 2

away the childrens childhood and their basic rights to learn. Children face many problems in
Africa and many times they do not even realize what they have missed until it is too late.
With the many issues of education, there are also many effects, including sexism, early
marriage, and poverty. Boys are more likely to receive an education than girls, making the gap
between the two genders even wider. Throughout Africa, 28 million girls between ages six and
fifteen are not educated and may never be. For many of the girls that are lucky enough to attend
school, the majority will only get to go for up to five years (GEM Report). Boys are viewed as
strong and more important in society, therefore girls are belittled in their education. Another
result of poor education is that girls are rushing into marriages to get money and become
successful. Girls that attend school at an earlier age delay marriage and are less likely to get
sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancies (UNICEF). Unfortunately for some girls,
school is not an option and they are rushed into marriage resulting in teen pregnancies. This is
incredibly difficult for young girls and boys alike and needs to be fixed.
Fortunately, there are organizations working to help African education. One of these
organizations is ASAP or the Africa School Assistance Project. A great thing about ASAP is that
it focuses on helping girls. At the moment ASAP is focused in Tanzania, which struggles with
one of the worst education systems in all of East Africa. They are committed to developing
community schools and providing support for the girls in the places of Tanzania that face a bad
future and may never have had an education (ASAP). Another great foundation is called
Building Schools For Africa, they work to build schools in places that otherwise would never
see them. At this point they have built 258 classrooms at 82 schools across Africa (Email).
They have made such a wonderful impact by just creating a safe learning space. To put books

Dickson and Phillips 3

into these learning places, Books For Africa gathers books from all kinds of places to give to
Africa. Books for Africa has worked to end the book famine by shipping over 31 million
books to 48 countries in Africa (Kirch). All of these organizations are made up of volunteers
and donations. Each organization has a website where donations are welcomed and greatly
appreciated. Every penny counts.
In Africa, education is an issue because as more opportunities are presented to boys,
fewer are given to girls. This can lead to poverty, and early marriage; if people dont help to put
an end to this issue, then many innocent children may never get to reach their full potential.
Everyone can help and any effort made, changes a childs life. Education is so important to
everyone around the world and in Africa this essential right is not given. If everyone works
together to help African children, they will get the education they deserve.

Dickson and Phillips 4

Works Cited
"ASAP." Africa School Assistance Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2016.
Email, By. "Welcome to Building Schools For Africa." Building Schools for Africa. N.p., n.d.
Web. 03 Nov. 2016.
GEMReport. "No Girl Left Behind Education in Africa." World Education Blog. GEM Report,
06 Mar. 2015. Web. 08 Nov. 2016.
Kirch, By Claire. "Out of the Midwest: Books for Africa and Little Free Library Promote
Literacy." PublishersWeekly.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2016.
Ltd, The Financial Times. "Key Issues on Education in Africa." - This Is Africa. SUSAN
HOPGOOD, 30 Aug. 2012. Web. 08 Nov. 2016.
Press, Elizabeth A. Kennedy Associated. "Africa's Children Struggle for Education." USA
Today. Gannett, 2007. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.
unicef. "Girls' Education and Gender Equality." UNICEF. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2016.

Dickson and Phillips 5

Outline
I.

Introduction
A. Hook
B. Transition
C. Thesis

II. 1st Body Paragraph: Cause

A. Lack of Teachers and facilities
1. Why it matters
B. Poor and Remote Areas and War
1. Why it matters
III. 2nd Body Paragraph: Effects
A. Boys Versus Girls education
1. Why it matters
B. Early Marriage and Poverty
1. Why it matters
IV. 3rd Body Paragraph: Organizations Working to Help
A. Books for Africa
1.Why it matters
B. The Africa School Assistance Project (ASAP)
1.Why it matters
C. Building Schools for Africa
1.Why it matters

Dickson and Phillips 6

V. Resolution
A. Revision of Thesis
B. Transition
C. Look towards the future