
The International Day of Education, held annually on 24 January, is a global day that raises awareness about the importance of inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all.
Access to education can help children and young people escape a life of poverty, reduce inequalities, and help reach gender equity – all of which are vital for peaceful and inclusive societies.
While education is a basic human right, millions of children around the world are still unable to access education. Today, sadly, 250 million children and adolescents are out of school and 763 million adults are illiterate. [1]
On the International Day of Education, join us in advocating for access to quality to education for everyone.
Saint Mary MacKillop believed in the power of education as a pathway out of poverty. She was a pioneer of schooling for the most marginalised children – regardless of their gender, race, faith or wealth – and she played an important role in establishing universal education across Australia.
At Mary MacKillop Today we are dedicated to carrying on Mary’s extraordinary legacy, both in Australia and overseas, by working closely with our partners to deliver access to education and the teaching of life skills. We work with local communities in Australia, Timor-Leste, Fiji, and Peru to ensure that women, men and children living at the margins have opportunities to learn and thrive.
Our First Nations Tertiary Scholarships provide much-needed financial assistance to students, helping to relieve the financial burden related to tertiary education. This support helps to ensure that scholarship recipients can achieve a better quality of life for themselves, their families and communities.
Nelletta, a proud Nyikina woman and one of our scholarship students, recently graduated with a Cert III in Early Childhood Education and Care and is now studying for a Diploma in the same subject at North Regional TAFE in Western Australia.
The scholarship has played a pivotal role in Nelletta’s journey, offering financial assistance, flexibility, and support, nurturing her mental well-being, and alleviating some of the pressures of studying, such as her course fees. Nelletta hopes to utilise the knowledge she is gaining through her course to benefit her community in Derby.
Nelletta’s story is a testament to the transformative power of education. The generosity and kindness of our supporters enables us to help people like Nelletta to build a brighter future.
By donating today, you will help us to continue Mary’s vital work to help people in need – today and every day. By providing the gift of education, your generosity will help to transform lives.
Thank you for any support you can give: www.marymackilloptoday.org.au/donate
Siobhan Reynolds
Director of Marketing and Communications, Mary MacKillop Today
[1] Global Education Monitoring Report, UNESCO, 2024