To educate a child is to support a smile, accompany a hope, and nurture a dream.
A child is a human being in development who needs care, protection, attention, and education in order to grow and flourish with dignity. Childhood is a precious time during which children grow physically, develop cognitive abilities, learn to manage their emotions, and build relationships with others, gradually integrating social norms that ensure lasting peace.
Childhood is an age of curiosity and exploration, but also a time of vulnerability. Children are often exposed to risks and dangers, and therefore need attention and affection to develop a sense of security and self-esteem.
Sadly, many children today are still deprived of the joy of childhood and the educational environment that would allow them to fully unfold their potential with dignity. Some are found begging on the streets, while others, more determined, become involved in economic activities or engage in various forms of labor. These situations not only hinder their physical, mental, and emotional development but also expose them to serious health and safety risks.
Child labor is a true scourge that requires special attention to protect the rights and well-being of children. Thus, we can firmly and confidently affirm that the right to education — as Saint Marie Eugenie had already envisioned — is a lever for transformation, a path toward a more just humanity.
At the Assumption, education is a call to life, a journey that «helps heal wounds and create spaces of communication, fraternity, and exchange where each person finds their place» (1) and their happiness.
Through education, our mission is to find ways to radiate a deep love of life and the joy of living fully.
As Saint Marie Eugenie said: «It is madness not to be what we are with as much fullness as possible.»
May God bless our mission and help us grow in that preferential love for the little ones and the poor, in whom we discover the very face of Christ.
Sr. Lucie Emmanuel MOMO, ra
(1) Education at the Assumption, reference text, International Congress on Education, July 1998, p. 8