Empowering grandmothers for children's education

One of the barriers for children – particularly girls – to attending school is that often families do not feel that the school reflects nor promotes their values.  The school is seen as a foreign institution that neither understands nor respects the local culture and traditions.  Grandmothers serve as a bridge between the school and families in the community.  They impart traditional wisdom and knowledge and support children’s well-being and development.

“Elders have a very important role to play in the transmission of values in the family, in communities and in school. They witness everything that goes on in children’s lives today and are repositories of many experiences. Because of this, they are like teachers who deserve to be listened to by the younger generations.”

 Saydou, Teacher in Velingara

Grandmothers are committed to working together with teachers to improve school-community relations, but also to ensure that children are connected with their culture and their traditions.  Grandmothers see their investment in children’s lives as their responsibility to children and the community as a whole.

“A woman gives birth to a child but the child belongs to the whole community. If the child hasn’t received a good education it’s not only a loss for the community, but also a failure of the same community.”

 Aissatou, Grandmother

Your continued support of Grandmother Project – Change through Culture ensures that children not only go to school, but that they are connected to their culture, their identity.  Grandmothers are not only the guardians of tradition, but they are also champions of children’s education.  Thank you for supporting our work with grandmothers and teachers for children’s education and development.