WHAT WE DO

Around the world, 244 million children and young people were deprived of school even before Covid-19 struck – including an incredible 67 million primary-level children. These out-of-school children are amongst the most in need, facing multiple and overlapping barriers. This creates a cycle of disadvantage which is hard to break. Children – and especially girls – who are poor, displaced or disabled are far less likely to enrol and stay in school. This affects their health and what they can earn – and the cycle is set to be repeated with their own children.

Education is the key to progress and prosperity for individuals, communities and nations. It is the single most vital element in combating poverty, improving health, generating economic growth and empowering women. A child whose mother can read is 50% more likely to live past the age of five and 100% more likely to attend school themselves. A girl with one year of additional schooling will increase her earnings by up to a fifth.

We support Educate A Child, a global programme of Education Above All, which:

• Aims to significantly reduce the number of primary-aged children worldwide who are missing out on their right to education
• Acts from a rights-based approach to education and envisions a world where all children have the opportunity to access a quality primary education
• Works in partnership with a variety of implementing partners with proven success, including multilateral agencies, international and national charities/NGOs
• Emphasises innovation, scale and sustainability: it supports and expands projects which break down the barriers preventing out-of-school children from enrolling and staying in primary education.

We are also introducing EAA’s youth leadership work to new audiences. Young people need to understand their ability to be agents of change and have opportunities to participate in the growth of their communities – particularly in conflict-affected areas. We are supporting EAA’s projects to mobilise the grassroots power of young people as advocates, peacebuilders and active citizens in conflict-affected and climate-affected communities, by introducing them to stakeholders.

In the UK, we are facilitating fully-funded scholarships for forced migrants with leading Universities. We are also connecting education resources with charities working with refugees.