What's More Important-- Education VS. Health

If you were given a large amount of money, would you donate it to help third world countries build schools, or hospitals?

A "school" in Sudan

        “Give a child a fish and you feed her for a day; give her a fishing rod and you feed her for life.” Many argue that building schools is more crucial than building hospitals. 
         My church is visiting a poor Middle Eastern country to build a school there. It is going to be very costly, and it made me wonder whether that would be the wisest descision. Perhaps health is a bigger problem, and building a hospital would be more mandatory. If we build hospitals, we can save the lives of countless people. We need hospitals to cure the sick, help the weak, and care for the hurt. Without health, we are nothing. However, that does not make it more important than education. If you look past yourself, building schools is beneficial for the future generations. They will be able to learn to build buildings, cure unhealthy people, and find better lifestyles to live. However, uncertain, I decided to take a poll.

A donated hospital to help Africans. 

         Out of a class of 23 students full of eigth graders in all four halls, I asked them: What do you think is more important? Education (building schools) or Health (building hospitals). To my surprise, only seven students chose education, compared to the 17 that chose health. "Education can't kill you!" claimed Kacie R. "If there's no hospitals, they're going to die. They can build schools later." stated Anonymous. "Health and then education," agreed Debi L. Looking at a different aspect, Josh Y. said, "If you are healthy you can't do anything, if you are smart you can get healthy." It ended with Daniel M. stating, "It depends where you are."

          According to 'Free the Children', a program where children help children with education, studies show that girls who are more educated earn more income, have fewer and healthier children, delay marriage, and are more productive at work. They state, 'Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and ending exploitation of children.'

          I believe that one's health determine's a life; one's education determines a generation. So which one wins? Many mission trips, celebrities, and donators, aim to build better hospitals and schools for third world countries. In undeveloped areas, not everyone has all the resources they need. Education obviously eventually leads to success, and a brighter future for you country. The more educated you are, the more guarantee. With better schools, kids can have the opportunity and ability to grow up and bring and become exposed to new and better changes. Though being academically strived does not always mean you will become rich, it's surely the first step. That's when health then kicks in. Once you are educated, people can be provided jobs, and later build more hospitals ands schools to bring forth an improved society. 

Interested? Here are some ways to help:
BUILDING SCHOOLS: http://www.gsbi.org/building-schools.html
CHARITY (INCLUDES HOSPITALS): http://www.worldvision.org
SCHOOLS AND/OR HOSPITALS (IN AFRICA): http://www.africaguide.com/charity.htm 

By: Jenny N.