Vaccines funding shows the way for global education movement
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To anyone familiar with the history of global health campaigns, its clear that todays pledging conference for new vaccines (GAVI)in Berlin, Germany, is a big success, with .
It is a clear example of the international community whatever that is! coming together and changing the lives of millions of families around the world. When it comes to peoples lives, big numbers can be overwhelming but that this coordinated action will save the lives of millions of children is inspiring.
This has been a long journey for health campaigners, for those working tirelessly on tackling maternal and child mortality. From Robina in Uganda, in Pakistan to in Delhi these are all individuals who have worked tirelessly to campaign for better health for all, supported by the many advocates and campaigners around the world, from Norway to the United States.
The global health movement has seen the results of this worldwide campaigning: the number of children dying of preventable illnesses has halved in a decade. However, during this time another story is unravelling before our eyes and is in need of urgent global attention.
Progress on getting every child in to school has stalled at 58 million,and attacks on schools are at their .
The poor response to what is possibly the largest refugee crisis since World War II is an example of the lack of support for basic education only $100million has been pledged to help install a country-wide double-shift school system for Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The total needed is .This is not for lack of popular desire for education around the world: after shows us that education is the number one priority for a global majority.
After years of these demands being neglected, a new global movement is emerging to reverse the trends and make the right to education a reality. A network of businesses, faith leaders, NGOs, United Nations bodies, youth, media and teachers and learning.
Campaigners working on the barriers to education child marriage, child labour, discrimination against girls, disability and others groups are coming together to recognise education as the key change-maker. A network like this working together is a powerful global force that cannot be ignored.
Their campaigning is being led by young people: more than 500 A World at School Global Youth Ambassadors in 85 countries launched the that has already received 1.5 million signatures around the world demanding action this year.
Bill Gates addresses the GAVI pledging conference
Their petition is being supported by a range of organisations from Rotary International to the Global Campaign for Education (GCE), from Elle magazine to Brac, the worlds biggest NGO and the a network of 105 leading global businesses.
As well as supporting the petition, the Global Business Coalition for Education has shown its commitment to education by working with A World at School to publish and schools and soon Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Todays GAVI pledging is a great example of what the world can do with concerted action. But it casts into stark relief the shameful lack of progress and for many countries, the backward steps theyve taken when it comes to education. Before the end of the Millennium Development Goals and the promises made in 2000 are forgotten, we have a window of opportunity to make the world keep its commitment to make the right to a quality, safe education a reality.
The key to unlocking a childs future should not include a decision between health or education. We will not give children a fair start unless we tackle inequality in both zero new deaths, zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero ignorance.
Nows the time to listen to the global demands for education and Stand #UpForSchool. You can join this movement:: .