Metis's Commitment on International Day of Education

Today we celebrate the International Day of Education, and the theme for this year is "Learning for Lasting Peace." At the core of this, is a fundamental truth – the right to education is not merely a privilege; it is a cornerstone for individual empowerment, capable of transforming lives and laying the groundwork for societies that are more peaceful, just, and sustainable.

In the face of this empowering theme, the global reality remains stark. Approximately 244 million children worldwide are not in school, while a staggering 617 million children and adolescents grapple with basic reading and math skills. Furthermore, less than 40% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school.

As we observe this year's International Day of Education, Metis reaffirms its dedication to supporting education leaders to develop innovative solutions, strengthen and scale their impact in education. Education, beyond being a tool for knowledge acquisition, stands as a powerful force for fostering peace, inclusivity, tolerance, and mutual respect in our local and global community.

Education leaders are pivotal in shaping a world that thrives on lifelong learning and cooperation, therefore, our commitment extends beyond individual capacities, aiming to empower these leaders to drive systemic change.

In the spirit of recognizing the potential for education to be a lasting force for change, we celebrate Samuel Binja, an alumnus of the Metis Fellowship.

Samuel was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2017, facing a life-threatening family conflict, he abruptly halted his university education and sought refuge in Kenya. Upon getting to Kenya, he was taken to the Kukuma Refugee Camp.

Samuel observed that refugee children lacked access to quality education, and sometimes, no education at all. Additionally, he noted the absence of skill development opportunities for youth in the camp and the neighboring Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement.

In response to these challenges, Samuel founded the Kalobeyei Initiative for Better Life. The initiative utilizes community spaces, such as churches, community halls, as learning centers, imparting literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional learning (SEL) skills to children in Kakuma. Beyond academic enrichment, it equips young minds with entrepreneurial skills, empowering them to identify and solve problems for sustainable livelihoods. Through a strategic partnership with Ubongo, Samuel integrated digital literacy into the initiative.

In the past year alone, Samuel impacted 120 learners in the camps.

In 2022, he received the Community-led Impact Award during the ReimaginED Summit, and the Kalobeyei Initiative for Better Life was honored as the KIDOGO center of the year for 2023.

His inspiring journey exemplifies the transformative power of education, leveraging on existing resources and the potential for community-led initiatives to create lasting change.

His bold question, "What if youth and children refugees had access to high-quality education?" echoes the broader question we pose on this International Day of Education: "What if every learner has access to quality education?"

At Metis, we champion the transformative power of education, and simultaneously commit to empowering education leaders to continue their vital work.

Let’s explore innovative solutions and advocate for a world where education knows no boundaries, truly becoming a transformative force for lasting peace and empowerment.