Errecom: standing by children's side

The education of millions of children in a quarter of the world’s countries is at high risk of collapsing, Save the Children said. A piece of extremely sad news that needs urgent action, and that Errecom wants to highlight today, on World Children’s Day.

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It has been estimated that 10-16 million children are at risk of not returning to school due to the pandemic. This is a worrying figure, but it should not surprise us if we consider that over the last year and a half, 90% of students around the world have studied from home and that a third of these do not have access to digital and new technologies.

The poorest countries seem to be the worst affected, although this educational collapse affects the whole world. In Italy alone, it is estimated that as many as 13.5% of young people leave school early, giving up the chance to build a future in line with their dreams and talents: a data that is far too high. We are running a double risk then: on the one hand, we are denying a generation the professional opportunities and chances they deserve, and on the other, we are depriving the job market of potentially valid young people because they are not adequately educated. However, the pandemic is not the only cause of this education collapse. Back in 2018, in Italy, it was estimated that the people aged between 18 and 24 years that left school early were 10 times more than the graduated Italians that left their country to move and work abroad (598.000 vs 62.000).

The main causes of early school leaving are economic, cultural, and social. Too often, young people feel lost and confused, unable to make decisions about their studies and future. Choosing who we want to be: this is one of the hardest choices a human being has to take, and things can get even more complicated the human being we are talking about is 17/18 or worse 12/13-year-old. What they need is practical and effective guidance, so that young people can experience the professions and the world of work, and for this purpose the establishment of an ongoing partnership between schools and companies is essential.

In this regard, Errecom’s commitment to the young community of the area takes shape with open days for the schools that are interested in discovering the world of chemistry. What Errecom wants to offer is a real journey into the world of work to show students how the different departments and experts work every day, and as far as possible, help them to clarify their talents, aptitudes, and passions.

Nelson Mandela once said that “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world”. And Errecom will keep defending and promoting it.