“Education, the best Protection against Poverty, here and everywhere”

Address by Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter on the occasion of awarding the “Prix Caritas 2010” in Lucerne on 11 June 2010

Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter awarded the “Prix Caritas 2010” to Sister Vincenzina and Father Gérard for their dedication to educate and train children of deprived families in Haiti. The head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs reminded of the fact that purposeful and sustainable schooling was the best means to prevent poverty, diseases and social problems. In Switzerland, the Federal Council emphasised the significance of education in its strategy against poverty, which was passed in March 2010. This strategy was developed in cooperation with the actors most involved, because a concerted engagement is inevitable. The federation, which has already been active in this field, concentrates its activities on children from families with underprivileged financial resources, to accompany them from early days on so that they might have a chance when they enter vocational training and working life. “Integration through education and work has to prevent that poverty is handed over from one generation to the next”, Federal Councillor Burkhalter emphasised. This autumn the federation is organising a conference on poverty together with the cantons. There will be the opportunity to discuss the priorities with all actors involved: the federation, cantons, communes, associations and organisations.

President
Mayor
Dear laureates Sister Vincenzina and Father Gérard
Dear ladies and gentlemen
“If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.” This proverb is ascribed to the Chinese philosopher and poet Kuan Tzu. It is supposed to have been phrased about 2300 years ago.
Although this proverb originates from bygone times, it describes a principle which became subject of the political and social discourse not until the 90s of the 20th century. It is the well known principle of sustainability.
A person considerate of sustainable impact would never sacrifice this objective to short-term interests. We are experiencing the contrary too often in economy and politics, which is the triumph of short-term thinking, the thinking in quarter years.
This does not mean that long-term oriented actions neglect short or medium term perspectives. Kuan Tzu’s proverb acknowledges the necessity to act in accordance to your objective. Consider political activities: we have to show a sense of responsibility for the present time to preserve the liberties of future generations. And they will have to act according to the same principle. This concept of sustainability also applies to the education of humans.

Dear laureates
You, Sister Vincenzina and Father Gérard, who are awarded the Prix Caritas 2010 today, have evidently followed Kuan Tzu’s words and decided to do work that has a lifelong impact. For many years you have been committed to educating and schooling children coming from poor families. At present 1300 boys and girls from the poor quarter “Trou Sable” in Gonaïves are attending the secondary school “La Sainte Famille”, which is presided over by you. Children, no matter how deprived their background, have a right to education and training. This objective – a school for the most disadvantaged – complies with your deepest convictions.
In Haiti dedication to this end is an enormous challenge, when you know that only one child in five finishes the sixth grade. And only one teacher in ten has had sufficient training. Furthermore, the children’s health does not guarantee their regular school attendance. Due to diarrheal diseases, chronicle malnourishment or intestinal parasites children frequently miss school. This is caused by polluted water – only half of the Haitian population has access to clean drinking water. And finally, more than 400,000 children have lost their father or mother to AIDS. Those orphans have hardly any chance to attend school.
Whoever intends to enforce the right to education for children living in Haiti under these conditions, needs faith that can move mountains. And you have this faith! Thanks to your pioneering spirit and perseverance, the number of children attending your school has been significantly raised. In addition, owing to your involvement, the variety of educational courses at your school could be extended. It ranges today from kindergarten to primary and secondary school.
Furthermore, the children are given a daily hot meal and clean drinking water. They are instructed in hygiene and health matters. All this contributes to the fact that the children attend lessons regularly and are able to finish their six school years successfully.
Essential for this success is the fact that parents are systematically involved as voluntary helpers with the education and development programme. The inhabitants of “Trou Sable” call your school “pearl of the quarter”. This expresses that in midst of poverty and misery there is a place of hope, which not only stands up for the children’s education and their future prospects but also for humanity as such.

Ladies and gentlemen
The laureates’ educational work in Haiti is specific commitment for more justice. This involvement also reflects shortcomings and challenges of our society. With the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the international community of states formulated a global vision of peace and justice: this included the right to education.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has been ratified by almost every state, emphasises that every child has the right to education.
Words alone are not sufficient. Words have to be followed up by deeds. Despite this convention, more than 100 million children worldwide cannot attend any school. The realisation of the right to education remains one of the biggest and most urgent global challenges.
Therefore the United Nations in their Millennium Development Goals demand that the right to education is finally realised worldwide by 2015.
The realisation of the right to education is evidently a question of morale and justice. It is also a question of survival for millions of people. When children attend a school, child mortality will decrease, because in school they also acquire the fundamentals of health and hygiene. Whoever possesses formal education has a better chance to obtain access to the economic system and is socially more independent and able to nourish and protect their family. Education is the best protection against poverty, against diseases, against social dramas, here in Switzerland and everywhere else in the world.
In Switzerland the Federal Council has emphasised once again the significance of education in their strategy to combat poverty, which was ratified in March this year. The strategy examines ways how to deal with poverty. Without doubt Switzerland is a rich country with a well-established social network, but there remain niches of poverty which we have to combat vehemently. This strategy was developed in cooperation with the actors most involved, because a concerted engagement is inevitable. At the beginning of this year 2010, which is declared as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, the strategy was introduced. From the Federal Council’s point of view this strategy should represent a permanent effort. Therefore we cannot just proceed to the next topic at the end of 2010: 2010 should rather start off a decade of combating poverty.
The federation is already involved in various areas. We want to intensify this work, namely by strengthening coordination in the area of integrating people into professional life. We want to make special efforts for children and youths from families with little financial resources. It is crucial to accompany them from early childhood so that their chances at the threshold to vocational training and entrance to working life are intact. Education is the best protection against poverty, here in Switzerland and everywhere.
A solid education for the youth is the best guarantee for prosperity of the entire society. Integration into schools and work life should prevent that poverty is handed over from one generation to the next. This autumn the Federal Department of Home Affairs in cooperation with the cantons are holding a national conference on combating poverty. The conference will offer the crucial opportunity to discuss in detail priorities in this area with all actors involved – the federation, cantons and communes, associations and organisations, and to take appropriate decisions.

Ladies and gentlemen
Dear laureates
Finally allow me to congratulate Caritas Schweiz for their committed work at home and abroad. It is impressive how your organisation fights hunger and poverty and how it stands up for children and youths. Caritas highlights certain social problems, but – and this is crucial – your aid organisation always offers a vision of hope.
The spirit shown by Sister Vincenzina and Father Gérard is clear evidence. It reminds us that the children’s right to education worldwide has not been realised yet. Your example also makes us realize that in order to enforce this right everything is possible. This invaluable commitment is carried further by thousands of Sister Vincenzinas and Father Gérards worldwide, which opens up the horizon for countless children and gives them a better start in life. You do not offer them much, you offer them more. Sister Vincenzina and Father Gérard, with your work for Caritas Schweiz the symbol of the flag, which connects you to our country, receives a double meaning: the Swiss cross – with its values of humanity and mercy – also becomes a mathematical symbol in the eyes of children in Haiti: a plus sign. Because you give them more: more future, more health, more hopes. For this proof of action that you give to the world, you deserve everybody’s respect, our gratitude and most of all our support.
I thank you for your attention.•

Source: www.admin.ch

Translation Current Concerns