The small, densely populated country of El Salvador seems to get more than its fair share of disasters. In the past decade alone, floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have killed hundreds of people and displaced thousands. But natural disasters pale in comparison to unnatural disasters – the most devastating of which is extreme poverty.

One of the areas hardest hit by the disaster of poverty in El Salvador is education. El Salvador has made significant progress in the past decade toward making education more accessible and more children are in school. However, many never finish their basic education.

As a result, one third of all students in El Salvador drop out of school before completing the fifth grade, leading to one of the lowest literacy rates in Latin America. Some students give up because of the poor quality of education; others have to leave to work with their families.

In order to address these issues, NetAid World Schoolhouse partner World Education & Development Fund (Worldfund) is working to improve the quality of education in El Salvador. WEDF supports children from at-risk families who are least likely to get a quality education and to complete school.

Through the San Antonio Mano Amiga School, students are given a comprehensive education that includes civic values and community building in addition to academics. Students also receive regular medical and dental check-ups to make sure they are healthy. The purpose of this holistic approach is to build individuals that can lead their families and communities in building a more prosperous future.

With each year that students attend the San Antonio Mano Amiga School, they build a brighter future for their communities, and all of El Salvador. And they ensure that the most unnatural of all disasters – extreme poverty – is eliminated once and for all.

 Photo Credit: Worldfund