International (MNN) — The Middle East and North Africa has 150 million children under the age of 15. But many don’t live happy, secure lives. SAT-7 works hard to be a voice in the lives of these children, particularly for education.
My School
Rita El-Mounayer of SAT-7 says, “For those children who cannot go and have formal education, we broadcast a program called My School. We started in 2015. And we are covering the first five grades in schools. Plus, we do a little bit of science, a bit of handicraft, and a few sports.”
El-Mounayer says the show has become very popular. Many older women have also learned to write by watching the show, and have written SAT-7 to thank them.
Exploitation and despair
Without education, children in the MENA region can be exploited. Extremists often see them as moldable to their ideologies. Young girls may be married off to much older men.
But El-Mounayer says hopelessness can be even worse. “Just imagine the amount of hopelessness that these people are going to have, are going to face. When you live and you don’t know why you’re living. When you live and you don’t know if you’re loved or not. When you live without your family, without a father or a mother, and you don’t know what the future will hold for you. It is important that we can be a voice for these people. We can be a help presenting them with the love that surpasses all love: the love of Christ to them.”
The header photo shows the set of My School. (Photo courtesy of SAT-7)
