Why Not Change The World With Education?
Why not change the world with education, as inspired by Nelson Mandela’s famous quote, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”? Education does more than impart knowledge; it is a tool that reduces poverty, decreases racism, eliminates gender inequality, prevents needless deaths, and fosters peace. It also plays a vital role in developing social and emotional learning (SEL) skills—empathy, respect, and understanding—that help students navigate a diverse world.
Mandela, one of my personal heroes, championed not just academic knowledge but also the importance of SEL skills. He believed that education could transform perspectives, promote equality, and cultivate respect across cultures.
Research supports this. Studies show that individuals who receive a well-rounded education—blending academic knowledge with emotional intelligence—are less likely to engage in violence and more likely to contribute to peaceful solutions. Education, enriched with SEL, remains one of the most powerful tools for change—second only to love in its ability to shape a better world.
Why Not Change the World for All Kids?
Paul Ellis Head of Teaching & Learning at Cambridge Assessment International Education, states: “Mandela’s legacy lives on in myriad ways – through the policies he implemented, the foundations and charities he created, and – for many – through the words he spoke and wrote.”
Mandela used his education and life experience for good. He said: “Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine; that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation.”
Educational strategies that integrate SEL are crucial for developing these very outcomes. SEL helps students manage emotions, set positive goals, show empathy, build relationships, and make responsible decisions. By weaving SEL into teaching methods, we prepare students not just academically but socially to engage with and improve the world.
Why Not Change the World Today with Education?
“It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.” — Nelson Mandela
Education has the power to transform lives, but not everyone has equal access. My experience in the Solomon Islands (SI) showed me firsthand how lack of resources limits opportunities.
This inspired me to create a community where revenue helps teachers in need. Having lived in the remote Solomon Islands for 15 years, I founded I Love To Teach (ILTT) as a way for teachers to support teachers in need.
There are many primary schools, but not enough for every child, and resources are scarce. I helped start one primary school, trained teachers, and taught students—but one school is not enough. Teachers in SI earn very little, sometimes nothing at all, yet they remain dedicated to their mission of helping children learn.
Watch this video to see how education can change the world.
A better place for others in need
Educational access and equity remain global challenges. In regions like the Solomon Islands, teachers face limited resources, overcrowded classrooms, and low wages. The national HICKS test is a major turning point for students—only those who pass can continue to secondary education. Sadly, only a small percentage succeed.
But when students do get access to education, they become agents of change, transforming their communities. I’ve witnessed firsthand how education empowers individuals to break cycles of poverty, contribute to society, and inspire future generations.
Education can help to change the world
Even though education alone cannot change hearts, it shapes minds. The ability to think critically reduces poor decision-making, leading to fewer harmful actions and more positive societal contributions.
As the old Chinese proverb goes:
“Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.”
Adding to this, Nelson Mandela’s words offer a profound reflection on the changes that education—especially with SEL integration—can bring to society:
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” — Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
This insight highlights why SEL is so essential. By integrating social and emotional learning into education, we equip students not only with intellectual knowledge but also with the empathy, resilience, and understanding needed to build a better, more inclusive world.
