What Is the Relationship Between Education and Poverty Reduction?
Education and poverty reduction are tightly intertwined. People who are living in poverty can’t afford education, and people who aren’t educated are often unable find a way out of poverty. It’s a cycle that is hard to break. At GFA World, we consider education and literacy a key to breaking the overbearing cycle of poverty.
Around the globe, villages are seeing real social and economic progress as literacy rates climb, even when only a handful of residents pick up reading and writing skills. A wealth of evidence suggests that teaching people these basics might just be one of those rare, transformative fixes—like a ‘great miracle cure’ that can transform lives.[1]
From the villages of Asia to the towns of Africa, we see that when even a small number of people learn to read and write, it’s like planting seeds of hope that grow into forests of opportunity for their entire community. Literacy is not just a skill; it’s a pathway to breaking the chains of poverty and ignorance, a ‘great miracle cure’ that can transform lives
GFA missionaries are diligently working to solve the literacy gap that is found in regions of Africa and Asia. In just one year, these faithful workers taught 61,880 women to read and write.[2] They did this through free literacy classes, teaching women who couldn’t afford an education the valuable skill of reading. Now these women can help their children learn to read, help them with homework, read signs and warning labels, and they can read the Bible too! These women are also now qualified for higher-paying jobs. They have experienced the “great miracle cure,” and many of their families are thriving because of it.
Education impacts poverty in a variety of ways. Some impacts include:
- When a girl is educated, she is less likely to get married early. In South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, education directly impacts the child marriage rates.[3]
- When a child is educated, child and maternal mortality rates decrease. EuroHealthNet says, “The meta-analysis found that each additional year of fathers’ and mothers’ schooling is linked to a reduction in under-5 mortality of 1.6% and 3.0% respectively.”[4]
- People who are educated earn more money over their lifetime.[5] Educated women are better equipped to provide for their families and help them out of poverty.
Education is a lifeline for a brighter future. You can help spark passion, open minds and break the chains of poverty one person at a time. At GFA World, we help with education in two basic ways. First, we help children receive an education through our Child Sponsorship Program, enabling children with helpful tools like tutoring assistance, nutritious food and medical check-ups. For adults, GFA World hosts literacy classes that are specifically designed to help adults learn to read, write and do basic math. Be a part of giving someone a brighter future by partnering with us in gifting education.
Learn more about Poverty Reduction Strategy[1] Mains, Karen Burton. “Literacy: One of the great miracle cures.” GFA Special Report. September 3, 2019. https://www.gfa.org/special-report/literacy-miracle-cure-illiteracy.
[2] Ibid.
[3] “Girls’ Education.” Unicef. Accessed November 1, 2024. https://www.unicef.org/education/girls-education
[4] “Education Provides a Path to Reduce Child Mortality.” EuroHealthNet. June 11, 2021. https://eurohealthnet.eu/publication/education-provides-a-path-to-reduced-child-mortality-new-chain-ihme-study.
[5] “Girls’ Education.” Unicef. Accessed November 1, 2024. https://www.unicef.org/education/girls-education