Today, 24 January 2022 marks a very important day on the global calendar, the fourth annual International Day of Education. A day dedicated to education around the world and a day to celebrate the important role of education in creating positive social, cultural and sustainable change around the globe. This year’s International Day of Education will generate debate around how to strengthen education as a public endeavour and common good, how to steer the digital transformation, support teachers, safeguard the planet and unlock the potential in every person to contribute to collective well-being and our shared home.*
And, while many of us have had the privilege of access to a quality education throughout our life, unfortunately, this is not the truth for many around the world. In fact, did you know that about 258 million children and adolescents around the world do not have the opportunity to enter or complete school; 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math; less than 40% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school and some four million children and youth refugees are out of school?*
Also, at this moment, nearly 130 million girls are out of school. Even more are in school but not learning, and sadly approximately 20 million more secondary school-aged girls could be out of school after the COVID-19 crisis has passed.**
kikki.K x Malala Fund
At kikki.K, we believe that education is a human right, and we are proud to support Malala Fund as they continue to work until they see every child in school. And we ask you to join us! Every child deserves a quality education and an opportunity to fulfill their dreams. Are you with us?
Continually inspired by Malala Yousafzai’s dream of a world where every girl can choose her own future, we have joined forces once again with Malala Fund to create a beautiful kikki.K x Malala Fund collaboration – our Make a Difference collection – to help empower people around the world, and raise awareness for girls’ education.
Making this partnership even more timely, are the lasting effects Malala Fund says that COVID-19 will have on the lives of most marginalised girls. The global pandemic resulting in 90% of the world’s countries shutting school doors was a temporary hiatus for most, but Malala Fund estimates that approximately 20 million more secondary school-aged girls could be out of school after the crisis has passed.
Malala Fund organisation focuses on addressing the immediate and long-term implications of the pandemic on girls’ education. Its key priorities are to keep girls learning through school closures, re-enrol girls to catch up on missed lessons, support teachers with resources and training, strengthen the system against future crises and ensure girls’ physical and psychological wellbeing in the classroom.
So, how can you help?
Without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth and adults behind.* Read more about this important global day at https://www.un.org/en/observances/education-day and https://en.unesco.org/futuresofeducation/
Support Malala Fund In their quest for a world where every girl can learn and lead.
The fight for girls’ education won’t be won by girls alone. Sign up to learn how you (and everyone) can help support Malala Fund and receive the latest updates on their work at https://malala.org/
Learn more about girls’ education and individual’s stories from all over the world through Malala Fund’s Assembly
Assembly as a platform for girls and young women around the world to share their thoughts, challenges and accomplishments — and for all of us to learn about this new generation of leaders. The newsletter is published on the first and third Thursday of every month. Sign up now: https://assembly.malala.org/
Support Malala’s fight for girls’ education with a donation to Malala Fund
A donation today is an investment in Malala Fund programmes that help girls around the world go to school — from creating safe spaces for girls in northern Nigeria, to training young Pakistani women as activists and providing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education to Syrian refugees. Find out more at: https://malala.org/donate
Start a fundraiser
Rally your friends and family to support Malala Fund’s work to see every girl in school. Find out more here: https://malala.org/fundraise
Read Malala’s book
Learn more about Malala’s story in her autobiography I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban. Grab your copy here
Most of all, we encourage everyone to embrace the opportunity of their education and become an advocate for girls’ education around the world. Support organisations like Malala Fund creating positive change in this area, talk about the inequality and injustices that exist with your loved ones, keep the conversation going – not just on International Day of Education, but beyond – so we can all continue to work towards a world where every girl has the opportunity to learn and lead. Remember, education is – and should be – for everyone.
*Source: https://www.un.org/en/observances/education-day
**Source: https://malala.org/