African heritage celebrated around the world on May 5

African World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on May 5 to recognize and respect the importance of preserving Africa’s unique cultural and natural heritage.

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, originated the observance in 2015 to encourage the world to help protect and preserve the continent’s rich culture and heritage. Among the risks to Africa’s universal value are global issues such as climate change, uncontrolled development, civil unrest and more.

This is why it is important to create awareness in people around the globe, and especially among Africans, to work towards protecting the continent’s rich cultural and natural heritage.

Children Believe recognizes the importance of preserving African heritage and since education is the best way to help children change their world, on May 5 we celebrate learning. Helping children, families and communities in vulnerable circumstances to access education is one of the best ways to overcome challenges posed by climate change, poverty, and child marriage in remote parts of Africa.

By providing access to education and community-based programs in west and east Africa, Children Believe is empowering youth to be agents of change. Here are just a few stories of our commitment to making a difference…

1. In Ghana and Burkina Faso, Children Believe in collaboration with the Tony Blair Institute for Change provides youth access to educational resources and training in core skills such as critical thinking, questioning and reflection. This is aimed at helping them turn into global citizens and community leaders.
2. In Burkina Faso, we support local communities to tackle climate change through innovation. We’re providing a ‘’community-managed, cost-effective solar-lamp project in Burkina Faso that is giving students the tools to learn efficiently and promote sustainable development.
3. In Ghana, we are supporting the Water for Education project in the rural community of Sukaya, by providing access to clean drinking water for the people in this community and eliminating the long walk many children have to take which keeps them in school.
4. In Ethiopia, our initiative to build a maternity ward has been providing safe and accessible maternity care for internally displaced moms in the community of Oromia and it’s giving more women the chance to access professional maternal healthcare.

So, as we celebrate African World Heritage Day, let’s work together to ensure Africa’s unique cultural heritage is recognized around the world, to be preserved for future generations to discover and enjoy.

Interested in learning more? For more information about our projects in Africa, click here.

About Children Believe

Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.

About Childfund Alliance:

A member of ChildFund Alliance, Children Believe is part of a global network of child-focused development organizations working to create opportunities for children and youth, their families and communities. ChildFund helps nearly 23-million children and their families in 70 countries overcome poverty and underlying conditions that prevent children from achieving their full potential. We work to end violence against children; provide expertise in emergencies and disasters to ease the harmful impact on children and their communities; and engage children and youth to create lasting change and elevate their voices in decisions that affect their lives.