Although we did not have time to finish an action project, what would you think would have been something you could have done with an app to help students learn better or get to school when transportation is a problem. Think locally on this one.

if we had made an app, I think it would have helped more people have access to education. There are many ways an app could help. I could try to alleviate some of the stress that burdens the kids and that prevents the kids from going to school. If the kids are missing school because they need to take care of their parents, maybe developing an app that connects caretakers to families in need of care would be helpful. If kid are missing school because they need to work, maybe developing an app that gives kids some money when they complete an educational lesson would be useful as well. Furthermore, I could try to develop a fun game that has an option in it to donate money to help other people have access to education built into the program.

Although our ability to influence a global issue is limited when we work alone, what do you think you could do with the help of an organization already in existance to make computer science education more accessible globally.

If we had help from an existing organization, we could possible have the funding and help to build schools in areas that need them and hire teachers for those schools, The organization could also help find jobs for the parents of the children who are not getting educated. If the parents make enough money, then the children wouldn’t have to work, and the parents might also be able to afford to put their kids in school.

Lastly, reflect on what you have learned through this WE service learning project and how it has influenced your global view of education.

I learned a lot about the issue of access to education because of the project. Unfortunately, I was ignorant of the severity of this issue until this year. Learning about the difficulties that so many children face when trying to get education has reinforced my belief that everyone, in all countries, should be able to have an education. However, it is going to take a lot of time and effort to make that happen. and I want to play my part to help solve this issue.

From the information you have gathered watching these videos, what are some basic human rights? Is education a basic human right?

After watching the videos, I have learned about a few basic human rights, such as freedom of
thought and expression, the right to privacy, and the right to public assembly. Yes, even if it is not heavily enforced, education is a human right that everyone should have access to.

What do you understand as being stated in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration?

In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 26 states “Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.” In other words, quality education should be accessible to everyone, especially in elementary school. However, even though the United Nations made education a human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is not enforced. Therefore, there are many people all over the world who do not have access to education, like the villages in India,

If education is a basic human right does that mean that everyone has access to quality education?

Even though most consider education as a basic right, many people around the globe, unfortunately, do not have access to it. There are many different reasons for this, such as poverty. Poorer communities can have a hard time building and sustaining a school. In addition, a family in poverty may need their child to work to help support the family, so they are unable to get an education. Furthermore, cultural factors can also could also impact education because some cultures may prioritize other things, such as getting married off and doing housework, over getting an education.

What your future would look like if you never had a formal education, or your formal education had ended at the 2nd grade?

If I never had access to formal education, my future would be very bleak. I wouldn’t have the necessary tools to make me an employee that people would want to hire, or at least not with a high income. Therefore, it would be very hard for me to find a job and support myself.

When you consider the barriers to education we have learned about, are there barriers that have impacted your access to education? Whether yes or no, how do you feel about that?

I am someone who was is very grateful to say that I haven’t faced any barriers in my education. Since my parents immigrated from India, they saw how education wasn’t a top priority for many women in India, so they always made it priority to ensure I have good education. I am very appreciative to my parents and thankful that I didn’t have to face any barriers in regard to having access to education.

Have these lessons made you think differently about the value of your education?

Yes, these lessons really made me think differently about the value of education. I definitely took my access to education for granted, and I didn’t realize how lucky I was.

What could you do to improve access to education at home or overseas?

I would help build more schools in places that don’t have any and bring teachers to that school. That way there could be a place for kids to learn and teachers to teach them. I could also go out or overseas and try to spread the message of the importance for education. Furthermore, I could also try and help find jobs for the parents of the children who aren’t educated, so that the children wouldn’t have to work, and they could have the time to go to school.

What surprised me the most about the video is that it emphasized that women are the ones that should have more access to education. I also never thought about the fact that if you even made more schools in Africa and other third-world countries, the kids still wouldn’t be able to go because they still have to take care of their sick family members or have to work to help the family get money. This video brought that fact to my attention. I also learned that if more girls were getting educated, it could decrease the fertility rates of girls because they would be more educated in that area and how to prevent pregnancies.

In addition, while watching the “Ask the Prof” video, I was shocked to learn that 83% of girls in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa out of school. I made me very sad, and I never truly realized how lucky I am to have access to such good education.

Furthermore, one way I can improve the access to education is by trying alleviate some of the stress that burdens the kids and that prevents the kids from going to school. If the kids are missing school because they need to take care of their parents, maybe developing an app that connects caretakers to families in need of care would be helpful. If kid are missing school because they need to work, maybe developing an app that gives kids some money when they complete an educational lesson would be useful as well.

Hi! I’m Debjoyee Sadhukhan. I am a high school student at North Olmsted high School, and this blog is for a WE project in my AP Computer Science A class. When I’m not at High School, I take guitar lessons and sing.