Church Initiative Supports Human Rights Education in Africa

In a celebration of human dignity and mutual respect, over 200 Ghanaian children gathered at The Church of Pentecost venue in Tema, Ghana on 16 December, 2025, to demonstrate their understanding of fundamental human rights. The event was organized and funded by the Humanitarian Services arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held in partnership with the Geneva Office for Human Rights Education (GO-HRE), a non-profit organization dedicated to making human rights part of every child’s education. The event was timed in acknowledgement of International Human Rights Day.

The Church’s Human Rights efforts are founded on GO-HRE’s volunteer-driven efforts, which provide its complimentary, non-partisan Colega curriculum to schools worldwide to help countries meet their treaty obligations under foundational documents like the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This landmark agreement, born from the collective resolve of the international community in the aftermath of World War II, established for the first time a universal standard for the inherent dignity and equal rights of all people.

The event in Tema was a unique adaptation of this curriculum, which is typically taught by The Church’s Country Directors, senior missionary couple Elder Jim and Sister Cindy Hess, to government, civic, and education leaders and teachers who, in turn, teach core human rights principles to children. In this event, the focus shifted to the children themselves, providing a dynamic assessment of how these vital principles are reaching the next generation.

 “Partnering with GO-HRE allows us to reach the youth with a proven, interactive curriculum” said Elder Jim Hess. “Today, the children showed us that the seeds of peace and respect are taking deep root. They are not just the future; they are powerful agents of good today.”

The Church’s support for this work stems from a profound belief in the inherent worth of every individual as a child of God. In many regions, including parts of Africa, societal challenges can threaten the dignity and safety of vulnerable populations. Teaching clear, universal principles of human rights provides a moral framework to combat prejudice, promote social cohesion, and protect the innocent. It empowers individuals and communities to build a more just and compassionate society—a key step in fulfilling the Savior’s admonition to “love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 22:39).

Elder and Sister Hess emphasized that the effort is a natural extension of core gospel doctrines, which align closely with the rights taught in the Colega curriculum. For example:

• Freedom of Religion: This fundamental right echoes the Church’s 11th Article of Faith: “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege.”
• The Right to Marry and Found a Family: This aligns with the doctrines of eternal marriage and the teachings in The Family: A Proclamation to the World, which declares that “the family is ordained of God.”
• The Right to Education: This principle finds strong support in Church scripture. Doctrine and Covenants 88:118 admonishes, “Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”
• The Right to Be Free from Bullying & The Duty to Defend: As children raised their hands to commit to standing against bullying, they embodied the covenant to “mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (Mosiah 18:9). Defending the rights of others is a practical expression of Christlike love.

The program was led by Human Rights teachers, all of different faiths and backgrounds, but all of whom are committed to Human Rights.  They engaged the youth following the interactive model of the Colega curriculum. Children staged original skits depicting conflict resolution and kindness, drew pictures illustrating key figures in the human rights movement, and sang songs promoting unity. Facilitators moved among the group, asking questions and inviting individual children to stand and explain the principles they were learning.

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In a powerful moment, Sister Cindy Hess asked the children to affirm a key principle by repeating each word after she said it: “We - are - stronger - together,” and a chorus of voices responded in unison. She later noted, “GO-HRE’s mission to empower children with knowledge of their rights perfectly complements our belief in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that every person deserves respect and dignity because we are all sons and daughters of Heavenly Parents.”

Ghana is currently the only country in Africa where the Church, through its partnership with GO-HRE, is engaged in this formal, nationwide human rights education initiative. Under the guidance of the First Presidency of The Church, efforts are now underway to expand this successful model into other nations within the area.

The event in Tema stands as an example of the Savior’s doctrine in action, following the model he set as He "went about doing good” (Acts 10:38) and is a testament that teaching human rights is more than a civic duty—it is a divine responsibility to honor the worth of every soul and to build Zion in our communities, one respectful interaction at a time.