
Education is a basic human right, yet 272 million children around the world are not in school. This is 21 million more than in 2024, according to UNESCO.
Vulnerable communities—often isolated, impoverished, or affected by war— lack access or face severe disruptions to education. CJI and its Jesuit partners in Africa, Asia, and Latin America provide early formal and informal childhood and adult education, and vocational training in these communities. Special attention is given to marginalized groups, focusing on gender equality and culturally relevant education for Indigenous populations.
Here are some highlights:
Jesuit-run Moran Memorial School in Nepal recently invested in teacher training and activities that increase student’s critical thinking and character formation. Teachers have attended seminars and exchange programs with peers from other schools and have been provided with extra books to improve their teaching skills. Students saw an increase in extracurricular activities, cooperative learning, club and sports activities, scout camps, and more.
In South Sudan, The Jesuit Eastern Africa Province operates nine education institutes, schools and centres that improve access to education for women and girls, increase the quality of education and learning outcomes through teacher training.
At Loyola Secondary School in Wau, teenage girls are given a chance to break the cycle of poverty by receiving quality secondary education, while reducing the risk of early pregnancy and early marriage. At St. Peter Claver Ecological and Computer Center (SPCECC), youth in Rumbek can increase their employment prospects by taking courses in subjects such as English, mechanics, solar and electrical installation, construction, plumbing, and computers.
PROJECTS SUPPORTED BY CJI:
Sowing Seeds for Social Transformation (South Sudan )
Basic education support for children & mothers in Kangemi (Kenya)
Education & health care for marginalized children & youth (Ecuador)
Construction of children’s play area; purchase of classroom furniture (Nepal)
Support for education of children from poor families (Nepal)
Expansion of Canisius Hostel dining hall serving low-income students (India) Infrastructure development for St. Vincent’s High School (India)
Repair of classrooms destroyed by armed conflicts in Goma (DRC)
Repair and renovation of Dew Villa Hostel, St. Alphonsus School (India)
Construction of new toilets at St. Alphonsus Primary School (India)
Entrepreneurial training for community bakery (Haiti)
Awareness-raising, intercultural & bilingual education on integral ecology (Pan-Amazon)
Construction of multipurpose hall for St. Peter’s Church (India)
Support for health care, nursing program at Jesu Ashram (India)
Total number of beneficiaries: 6,986