adei-ngo.org

Volunteer Stories Ravi Bhushan Singh

 

Ravi Bhushan Singh  -  ADEI Volunteer

The education system in Tanzania is very different than that in many developed countries. The major difference is that in many countries, education is free and every youth has the right to attend though there are many children in the world who value education, in Tanzania, it is considered a privilege to access quality education. 

The major challenges which prevent kids from attending school are many, including shortage of schools and teachers and inability of families to pay for school fees and expenses. Additionally, students may live a long distance from their school and are required to walk up to two hours each way. Due to lack of electricity in the homes, once it is dark, students have no light for homework and reading. But despite all these rather daunting hurdles, these students have aspirations in life. The cost of technical school is as much as $400 to $800. The fact that many families survive on less than a dollar or two a day means that many families cannot afford to send their kids to school or families can afford to send only one of their children to school. Imagine having to decide which of your children will have a chance for success in life and which will not? 

Despite cultural and logistical differences, there are some striking similarities between African kids and those from elsewhere. They love running and playing, teasing, kicking a soccer ball. They are fun loving, well behaved and eager to learn. They do not take their education for granted. 
It is well known that lack of education is a leading cause of poverty in the developing world. Children must have the opportunity to attend school so they can become part of the agent for changing the system and achieving personal success in life. This is where Schneider Electric Foundation comes in. I am proud of our goal, through BipBop electrician training program we are taking small but steady stable steps to provide resources, at least to some of the youth in Arusha, Tanzania and around, in association with a French NGO ADEI to allow them the opportunity to pursue their education.

I sincerely thank Schneider Electric Teachers program in association with Schneider Electric Foundation and ADEI for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the story to contribute in sharing my knowledge of creating the framework of technical education in electricity and related subjects. Partnerships will play a critical role and I commit to the youth of Tanzania - Schneider Electric Foundation will stand by changing the lives of many through its flagship program of “Access to energy”.

Ravi Bhushan SinghTechnical Volunteer