Education provides the foundation upon which strong societies are built. Education helps to develop minds. It allows people to realise their potential and opens up possibilities. In addition, education gives each successive generation the skills and abilities necessary to address problems and facilitate positive changes within their communities. All successful communities are comprised of well-educated members of society who were afforded the opportunity to pursue an education, to expand their horizons, and to make contributions to their communities.
As education is advanced throughout all segments of society, all areas of society advance. Educated children are empowered by knowledge, educated family members hold out hope for a better future, and educated communities will undergo a lasting transformation. This does not occur merely in classrooms. The ripples created by learning among generations demonstrate how powerful the influence of education truly is.
Through our years working in Ghana, we have observed this truth firsthand as a result of our own work supporting poor communities. When we established boreholes (wells) to provide safe drinking water, we did so to help establish environments that would allow many students to receive access to quality education more easily and sustainably than they previously could.
Prior to the establishment of the boreholes in many of these same communities, fetching clean water was a daily task that required hours of time and physical effort from students. As a result of the time and energy spent gathering water, students often lacked the ability to focus and were frequently distracted during classes. Following the construction of boreholes, students no longer spend time and energy searching for clean water; therefore, they now have additional time and energy available to devote to their studies and academic development.
We can see evidence of the impact in the testimonials we have received. We hear consistently from students that they are able to attend school more regularly. Teachers indicate that students' attention spans have increased significantly. Parents report that their children are demonstrating a greater level of commitment and dedication toward education. A seemingly small initiative such as establishing a borehole has demonstrated itself capable of generating substantial momentum toward furthering educational pursuits.
Therefore, we firmly believe that development should be approached from a holistic perspective. When one fundamental need is addressed, it generates new avenues for other needs to be met. Therefore, while each borehole we construct represents a source of clean water for those in need, it also enables us to be a part of creating a society in which education can flourish and young people will be empowered to create brighter futures for themselves and their respective communities.
