Happy International Day of Education!

At Tropic, we believe education has the power to change the world. That’s why we’re helping children in the world’s most remote and isolated communities access school for the very first time. 

Although everyone deserves the right to education, almost 60 million children around the world will never have the opportunity to read and write. Without school, these children become entrapped in a vicious cycle of poverty, unable to carve out a better future for themselves and their families. 

The ILO estimates that children in Nepal are 78 per cent more likely to be engaged in child labour if they’re out of education. Moreover, 25 per cent of Nepalese girls will marry before the age of 15 if they don’t attend school, compared to just two per cent when women reach higher education. 

Staggered by these statistics, we decided to fight for children’s right to education. In 2019, we joined forces with United World Schools (UWS), helping to resource, run, and even build schools in the world’s poorest, most remote regions. 

How? Well, for over two years, every single Tropic purchase, no matter how small, has funded education. And, for every collective £50 spent with us (excluding delivery), a day of education is donated to a child in either Cambodia, Myanmar or Nepal.

It’s safe to say the results are remarkable. In 2021, we raised enough funds for 12,000 children to be educated for a whole school year. On top of this, we were able to support 100 existing UWS schools, employing more than 400 teachers.

Here’s everything included in our school days: 

• Safe school buildings, with plenty of room for every child who wants to attend
• Teachers who have been trained to deliver a high-quality education
• Classroom essentials, such as desks, chairs and whiteboards
• School libraries bursting with books, to encourage a love of literacy
• Clean water, bathrooms and health lessons to ensure our students are fit and healthy to learn

Every child should have the opportunity to access education, unlock their potential and  choose their own path in life – children living in remote and marginalised communities are no different. 

UWS and Tropic are focused not only on the number of children reached but also on the quality of education. We proudly implement our inclusive education policy across our schools to ensure students are receiving the best possible opportunities. 

We’re not resting on our laurels either. 2022 is gearing up to be one of the most exciting yet. As well as building on our existing work in Cambodia, Myanmar and Nepal, we’ll be expanding out of Asia and into Madagascar for the first time! Based in the fishing village of Ampandrivotse, Southwest Madagascar, the new Tropic school will empower hundreds more marginalised children. 

None of this would be possible without you, our valued customers and Ambassadors. Thank you for helping us create a healthier, greener, more empowered world. So today, let’s raise a pencil and notebook to an even brighter future!