Humans for Education

r windows asking for money. His stomach was bloated and huge - disproportionate to his body - and his eyes were yellow. As I starred into this little boy’s eyes I felt strangely connected to him. His eyes were pleading for me to help, but as a child I felt absolutely powerless. Our guide John, who was an older man that had worked as a safari tour guide his whole life, noticed how affected I was by the child. He had a gentleness about him that made me feel I could open up to him. John put his elbows on his knees so his face was level with mine. This caring old man, weathered by work, shared words of quiet wisdom with me that night…
He instilled in me an awareness that the freedom and opportunity that comes with being a citizen of a privileged country could be used for more than my own needs. He showed me that my fortunate citizenship gave me a unique opportunity to not only have an effect on my own life and government, but to positively affect those in need outside of our borders. I wouldn’t know it then, but that one conversation, that one man changed my life forever. Over the next fourteen years, it was clear that there was a real need for a nonprofit that was led by local staff in each country, that could provide the right kind of support, training, and ability to track the students and staff at schools to ensure their success. It was clear to me that to ensure long-term success of any school, the nonprofit could not just give them a “fish”, instead we would need to teach them to fish themselves! These are the principals upon which Humans for Education were founded in September 2015. That one conversation so many years ago changed my life. I hope this one will change yours…"

-Daphne Pariser