If you ask children what they want to be when they grow up, you’ll be surprised to hear their answers. Some would say they want to be a doctor; some would say an astronaut; some would say a writer, and the list can go on and on. Children dream big, which stands true for all children, regardless of where they live and their background. Unfortunately, this world isn’t a fair place to live. Not all children get equal opportunities to pursue their dreams.
There are billions of underprivileged children around the world who are waiting for their chance to take flight. If given the right opportunities, they, too, can make a name for themselves, just like I did when I eventually became Ghana’s first skeleton athlete.
In this blog, I’ve listed the many ways you can empower the next generation and play your part in ensuring everyone gets an equal shot at making their life better.
Provide Access to Quality Education
The key to growth and empowerment is quality education. Someone who has access to a good education has a clear benefit over someone who doesn’t. Education is what sets people apart. If you truly want to empower the next generation, work on providing access to quality education to children of all backgrounds. The privileged already have access to the best resources. It’s the underprivileged that stay behind. Underprivileged children are also a part of the next generation, and they deserve to grow out of their shells, too. You can play your part by personally taking responsibility for educating a select number of underprivileged children or donating to organizations. For example, my foundation, Hope of a Billion, is focused on improving the lives of children from less fortunate backgrounds.
Facilitate Skill Development
Just because some children are born in less privileged families doesn’t mean they aren’t skilled. You can empower the next generation and help underprivileged children pursue their dreams by facilitating skill development. Every individual has special skills. Some know about them, while others have to explore. Facilitate this journey by providing access to training and mentorship. If you’re good at something, spread knowledge by offering training, tutoring, or mentorship in any way you think you can make a difference.
Design Community Programs
Different communities have different needs. One of the most effective ways of empowering underprivileged children is to design community-specific programs to address the specific needs of a community. This way, an entire community can work and grow together. The impact will be stronger this way.
Just because a child isn’t born into a privileged family doesn’t mean it’s the end for them. Had I accepted my faith, I would have never made myself into what the world knows me today. I broke all the barriers and became the first black skeleton athlete from Africa. I’m a living proof for everyone who thinks life has been unfair to them that they’re responsible for changing their fate and that anything is possible with hard work, determination, and consistency. If Ghana’s first skeleton athlete didn’t give up, and you shouldn’t, too!