Safeguarding Education for All: A Call to Action on September 9th

Halimata’s life changed in an instant when terrorists attacked her village in Burkina Faso. Her family ran for their lives, but not everyone escaped. “During the attacks, my little sister was killed. I came to live with my grandmother without my parents,” she recounted.

Halimata not only lost her sister that day, but also her family, home and her community. Living in a camp for the forcibly displaced and out of school, she was in serious danger of losing her future too. At just 15 years old, with all her choices stolen from her, she faced a real risk of being forced into early marriage or hazardous work like prostitution.

Protecting Education, Protecting Futures

As we approach September 9th, the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, it’s crucial to shine a light on the millions of children worldwide like Halimata who are denied their fundamental right to education because of conflict, natural disaster and other barriers to education. Education is under attack globally and this crisis threatens not just the future of individuals, but the future of our entire planet.

The Stark Realities

According to Education Cannot Wait reports in 2022, over 75 million children aged 3-18 in 35 crisis-affected countries urgently need educational support. Additionally, climate-related events disrupt the education of about 40 million children annually. These statistics are not just numbers; they represent lost potential, shattered dreams, and a dimmer future for millions of children.

Protecting Choices

This is why Children Believe focuses on empowering children, youth and women to break the barriers to education, enabling them to unleash their full potential. Access to education creates a lifetime of choices because education is the most powerful resource they can use to change their world for the better.

Over the past year, Children Believe renovated, equipped or supported 504 early childhood education centers.  We also trained 11,729 teachers and parents/caregivers in inclusive education and effective  teaching methodologies that address the unique challenges that the most vulnerable children face.

It made a world of difference for children like Halimata in Burkina Faso. With support from UNICEF and UNOCHA, we provided teacher training on education in emergencies, focusing on safe schools and psychosocial care to ensure children’s education continues. Recognizing that hunger inhibits learning, we also extended emergency food support to over 12,400 people who live in fragile context.

These actions helped to stabilize life of children like Halimata who is now back at school in grade seven, benefitting from an environment that fosters her learning and well-being. She now dreams of being a midwife. She shares optimistically: 

“I’m happy because my situation is not like before, when I didn’t know much. I know that with God’s grace, the future will be good,” 

Solutions for Change

Change must happen at all levels, not just locally. Collective actions must be taken to remove a wide range of systemic challenges including political, economic and environmental barriers to education. This is particularly true for children who live under the most difficult circumstances.

Children Believe, as a member of the Canadian International Education Policy Working Group is calling on the Canadian government to continue prioritizing education as it takes on the presidency of the G7 this coming year. The last time Canada hosted in Charlevoix, Quebec in 2018, our country brought much needed attention to how education is under attack, particularly for girls. But the damaging effects of COVID, ongoing conflicts and the escalating climate crises has made this more crucial than ever, leaving the futures of millions hanging in the balance. Canada can continue to close the global education gap by renewing and expanding this legacy at the G7 in 2025.

Canadian Change-Makers

1. Increase Funding: Governments and international organizations must prioritize education in their budgets, especially for crisis-affected regions. Expanding financial support for education will ensure that no child is left behind, regardless of their circumstances.
2. Support the Safe Schools Declaration: More countries need to endorse and implement this inter-governmental commitment to protect students, teachers, and educational facilities during armed conflicts. This declaration is critical for safeguarding education, and ensuring that schools remain sanctuaries of learning.
3. Make Education Climate-Resilient: Invest in climate-adaptive school infrastructure and disaster preparedness programs for those who live in the most vulnerable areas. This will mitigate the impact of climate-related disruptions on education.
4. Implement Gender-Inclusive Policies: We need to keep girls in school by providing menstrual hygiene facilities and addressing cultural barriers, ensuring that education systems are inclusive and supportive of all students.
5. Expand Technology-Enabled Learning: Access to digital education resources, especially in remote or conflict-affected areas will prevent these children from falling further behind. This includes investing in affordable and accessible technology solutions that can reach vulnerable communities.
6. Engage Communities: Involve local communities in educational planning and implementation to ensure relevance and sustainability. Community engagement is key to creating educational solutions that are culturally appropriate and accepted by all.

Education: The Key to a Better World

Investing in education, particularly for the most vulnerable children, is not just a moral imperative—it’s the smartest investment we can make in our collective future. Education empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and builds more peaceful, prosperous societies. It’s the foundation for solving global challenges, from climate change to poverty to conflict resolution.

For girls especially, education is transformative. Educated girls marry later, have healthier children, earn higher incomes, and are more likely to reinvest in their communities. This ripple effect can break cycles of poverty and inequality that have persisted for generations.

As we mark September 9th, let’s remember that protecting education from attack is about more than just keeping schools open. It’s about safeguarding hope, fostering resilience, and laying the groundwork for a more equitable, sustainable world.

How You Can Take Action

1. Raise awareness by sharing this information on social media.
2. Support organizations like Children Believe working to protect education in crisis zones.

Endorsing and implementing the recommended policies can transform lives and national alike, ensuring that every child, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to our shared future.

About Children Believe

Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.

About Childfund Alliance

A member of ChildFund Alliance, Children Believe is part of a global network of child-focused development organizations working to create opportunities for children and youth, their families and communities. ChildFund helps nearly 23-million children and their families in 70 countries overcome poverty and underlying conditions that prevent children from achieving their full potential. We work to end violence against children; provide expertise in emergencies and disasters to ease the harmful impact on children and their communities; and engage children and youth to create lasting change and elevate their voices in decisions that affect their lives.