World Vision Empowers 12-Year-Old Mathews to Become an Education Champion

Every school holiday is special for Mathews ,12. But the second term holiday for the 2025/2026 academic year is unlike the other holidays.

This time, Mathews is not only celebrating his own progress in school , but also  carrying a new responsibility. He has been chosen as his village’s Education Champion, a role that allows him to lead reading and writing sessions for other children in his area. 

For years, Mathews’  education journey  has been characterized by numerous obstacles including frequently missed classes.  The distance to school, the rough terrain, and sudden rains made the trip almost impossible. On many mornings, he would sit outside his home and listen as the voices of other children drifted past on their way to school.

“I wanted to join them.  But I couldn’t. “Says Matthews.

Despite these setbacks, Mathews never gave up on his dream to learn. His determination, matched with the support of World Vision’s Thundu Area Programme Education initiative has opened new doors for him. He recently received a wheelchair from World Vision through Gift in Kind which  has transformed his daily life including his pursuit for education.

“The wheelchair has enabled me to realise my dream of attending school and learning in a classroom,” says Matthews.

Through Thundu Education Area programme, Mathews was selected and trained as a Literacy Champion Leader. With this, he is now helping other children in his community who struggle to read.

“I am happy that I am  teaching my friends how to read and write. In our area, many learners cannot read. I want to inspire them to believe in themselves and to keep learning. “Says Matthews.

Fully equipped  with storybooks, learning guides, and his own determination, Mathews has already enrolled more than 40 children in informal lessons which are carried at his home. These sessions are not only improving literacy but also building confidence among children who once stayed silent in class.

“Education is not only my dream but also a gift I should share with others. Now with textbooks and my wheelchair I can study together with my friends.” Says Matthews. 

Beyond literacy, Thundu Education Area Programme is also supporting Community Based Childcare Centres (CBCCs) with school feeding. This ensures that young learners, especially those most affected by hunger and malnutrition linked to El Niño weather receive at least one nutritious meal each day. 

The combination of learning support and school feeding at Thundu Area Programme is giving children like Mathews and his peers fairer chance to thrive.