More than 75 million children in crisis-affected and conflict-affected countries need urgent support to receive an education. Half the world’s 4 million school-aged refugees are out of school, with refugees five times more likely to be out of school than the global average.
This matters because for a child caught up in a crisis, school provides a safe space to learn and a precious sense of normality, routine and calm. In the longer term, education also contributes to a society’s stability, peace and prosperity. Progress towards the Global Goals will not be possible without investing in safe, inclusive, high-quality education for children and young people affected by conflict and emergencies.
‘Education Cannot Wait’ (ECW) is the only global fund for education in crises. Since it started in early 2017, ECW has operated in some of the most challenging places in the world. This year ECW is asking for investments to help support the education of 9 million children and young people by 2021.
Please visit or write to your MP, telling them about the importance of investing in education in emergencies. Ask them to write to new Secretary of State for International Development Alok Sharma MP, encouraging him to invest £75 million in ECW over three years.