During the first pledging conference for education in emergencies and ongoing crises, the state and other donors pledged Thursday to fund $826 million for the work of Education Cannot Wait over the next four years.
The United Nations estimates that 222 million children worldwide have lost their education due to conflict or climate-related disasters, including nearly 80 million who have never been in school.
Education cannot wait
Since 2016, Education Cannot Wait has raised more than $1 billion to build schools and purchase educational materials as well as provide daily meals and offer psychological services.
The aid has helped nearly seven million children in 32 countries.
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ECW says it needs to raise an additional $1.5 billion for its work between 2023 and 2026, with the goal of reaching an additional 20 million children.
‘Direct consequences’
Lack of education has real and immediate consequences. Children are sometimes on the streets, facing the threat of violence, human trafficking, recruitment by armed groups or, for girls, forced marriage.
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“We have seen around the world that hope dies when convoys carrying refugees are lost at sea. Hope dies when things trying to get refugees in besieged cities cannot get through,” said Gordon Brown, ECW chairman and delegate UN special for education, told the conference.
“But hope also dies when young people cannot plan or prepare for the future because they do not have the opportunity to go to school,” he said.