Global Partners
EGYPT
Spirit of Youth Recycling School
Incentivizing Education through Innovation. Our partner program in the Garbage Village of Egypt creatively utilizes recycled materials to construct their own unique, recycling-based curriculum and educational materials. This initiative not only promotes environmental awareness but also empowers the community by incorporating sustainable practices into their learning experience.
Spirit of youth
Our partner school, Spirit of Youth, offers Montessori education to child laborers in Egypt's garbage village. This innovative social enterprise addresses two critical issues: providing educational opportunities for child laborers and incentivizing parents to enroll their children through a unique "cash for trash" model. At Spirit of Youth, a buy-back center allows children to bring in empty shampoo bottles that may have been fraudulently refilled and resold. In return for each recovered container, Zabbaleen (garbage collectors) students receive payment and engaging lessons in reading, writing, math, art, drama, and computing.
Incentivizing education for families enables children to access schooling and educational opportunities that might otherwise be unavailable to them. In 2006, Spirit of Youth was recognized with the Schwab Award for Social Entrepreneurship, thanks to its innovative "trash for cash" model, which successfully promotes education within informal communities.
Recycled Materials & Child-Centered Design
Garbage Village, Helwan Cairo
SRI LANKA
Bridge Education partners with the Ephraim Foundation and OASIS organization in Northern Sri Lanka to provide children with essential access to education and nutrition. This partnership offers transportation, school supplies, nutritious meals, and quality educational instruction, ensuring that even those in the most remote areas receive the educational opportunities they deserve.
Our Partners in Sri Lanka conduct a comprehensive yearly program designed specifically for children. This program concentrates on essential themes such as leadership, self-efficacy, education access, and the provision of safe spaces for children to gather, referred to as “Safe Circles.” Within these circles, children engage in valuable learning experiences that cover important topics, including child protection, drug prevention, and proper nutrition, equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need for a healthier and safer future.
SOUTH SUDAN
Bridge Education partners with Alabaster International to make a meaningful impact in South Sudan, providing access to one of the most isolated remote communities in Africa. This unique area is primarily reachable only by canoes, particularly during the rainy season when the surrounding terrain becomes difficult to navigate.
Reaching Isolated Communities with Education
Accessible primarily by canoe during the rainy season and profoundly affected by the civil war, Leer, South Sudan, stands as a unique and challenging environment. Despite facing significant hardships, the residents of Leer demonstrate remarkable faith and resilience. Many children attend school in large numbers, adapting to makeshift classrooms under trees, braving temperatures that can reach 100 degrees. Unfortunately, crucial learning tools like chalkboards have been lost to the impacts of war and flooding.
Bridge Education collaborates with Alabaster International, a local partner of UNIDOR (Universal Intervention and Development Organization), to enhance educational opportunities in the community. This partnership focuses on building educational capacity for three primary schools: Leer Primary, Mary John Primary, and Rubykuay Primary. These institutions require essential supplies and renovations to classrooms to ensure sustainable support for education in the area.
Commitment & Passion for Learning in South Sudan
Students in Leer, South Sudan, are eagerly embracing the chance to pursue their education. Bridge Education is a proud partner with Alabaster International to provide essential learning opportunities for these determined students, aiming to pave the way for a brighter future.