In poor rural areas of India, Nepal and Zambia our experts work with communities to select the brightest 10 -year-old children (two girls for each boy) among those held back by extreme rural poverty, displacement due to conflict, gender stereotypes, poor education and the pressure to work and earn a living.
High School completion rates for the poorest rural communities are just 3% in Zambia, 13% in India and 10% in Nepal (UNESCO UIS 2019z).
The children we select come from 12 different countries. Many are refugees and/or have lost one or both their parents. All of them are exceptionally gifted, but are unable to reach their potential in local schools and under conditions of poverty.
Around 53% of children in low-and middle-income countries cannot read and understand a simple story by the end of primary school.
World Bank 2019a
Globally, 1 in 5 women 20 to 24 years of age were married in childhood
UN SDG Snapshot 2020
Globally 63 million girls and 97 million boys were in child labour at the beginning of 2020.
Unicef and ILO 2020
Our expert teams in India, Zambia and Nepal travel to some of the most remote areas, where schools are poor and under-resourced.
Here, we work with the local communities to select the brightest children at aged ten, choosing two girls for each boy. We identify those who excel in the areas of emotional intelligence and academic performance. We choose these children for their potential to become role models and change-makers in their communities.
With the support and encouragement of their families, we offer these children the opportunity to join our programme and move to one of our Pestalozzi Villages, where they receive:
At high quality local schools, living in a conducive environment for learning and receiving additional academic support from staff and peers.
With child-centred care looking after their emotional wellbeing, encouraging them to take care of others and inspiring their ambition.
Children grow food and take pride in keeping their village clean and tidy. They learn crafts to develop skills they can use in future life.
And they change their worlds
When our children leave us at 18 they are fully equipped with a high quality education, exceptionally high grades, life skills and values to sustain them for their futures. They then go on to access university education themselves.
Our monitoring demonstrates that our Alumni are becoming a new generation of teachers, health professionals, entrepreneurs, aid workers and leaders who are equipped with the tools they need to change the world, together.
We support our Alumni to stay connected with Pestalozzi World and each other even after graduation, and provide them with opportunities for mentoring, volunteering and career advice.
Our Alumni soon become role models in their communities, bringing about social change, and true ambassadors for the Pestalozzi values.
Our teams are always looking for innovative ways to share the Pestalozzi values with more communities.
Edulution is one of the outreach programmes we support.
Edulution is a social enterprise partially funded by Pestalozzi World, running tablet-based educational programmes for children living in some of the most remote areas of Zambia, including refugee camps. Solar units entirely power the tablets.
Each year, thousands of children improve their reading, writing and math skills through Edulution.
Pestalozzi World supports 4,300 children through our outreach programme each year.
As our students graduate and begin their careers, entire communities benefit from their support.
62% of whom already hold a university or college qualification. Many more will soon graduate.
90% have remained in their country of origin, contributing back to their communities. While 7% are studying overseas on scholarships while 3% have emigrated
by falling into at least one of these three categories: working in careers of public service, volunteering in community programmes, or supporting family.
As our students graduate and begin their careers, entire communities benefit from their support.
62% of whom already hold a university or college qualification. Many more will soon graduate.
90% have remained in their country of origin, contributing back to their communities. While 7% are studying overseas on scholarships while 3% have emigrated
by falling into at least one of these three categories: working in careers of public service, volunteering in community programmes, or supporting family.
Pestalozzi World is a family of nonprofit organisations that provides exceptional children from some of the poorest communities in Africa and Asia a unique education that produces young adults capable of changing the world.
Pestalozzi World Children’s Trust, UK registered charity number 1172364 | Pestalozzi US Children’s Charity Inc., US registered E.I. Number 04-3407363 |Pestalozzi Overseas Children’s Foundation, Swiss registered charity number CH-020.7.001.633-9
Pestalozzi World Children’s Trust
F8 Worth Corner Business Centre
Turners Hill Road, Pound Hill
CRAWLEY
West Sussex
RH10 7SL
Pestalozzi World is a family of nonprofit organisations that provides exceptional children from some of the poorest communities in Africa and Asia a unique education that produces young adults capable of changing the world.
Pestalozzi World Children’s Trust, UK registered charity number 1172364 | Pestalozzi US Children’s Charity Inc., US registered E.I. Number 04-3407363 |Pestalozzi Overseas Children’s Foundation, Swiss registered charity number CH-020.7.001.633-9
Pestalozzi World UK
Unit A6 Worth Corner Business Park
Crawley
RH10 7SL
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Gifts collected by our UK and USA charities can be directed to any of our international partners. Contact Suzanne Davis suzanne@pestalozziworld.com to provide us with your preference.
