Stories of change
The Global Campaign for Education’s movement fingerprint on the Fortaleza Declaration from 2024 is celebrated as a win for civil society and a positive outcome of the support from Education Out Loud to GCE. But why does the Declaration matter, and how did it come together at critical political moment?
On battered roads and against deep-rooted traditions, local advocates fight to bring girls safely back to school. Travel with us to Narok in Kenya, where Elimu Yetu members are combatting forced marriages and discrimination against girls.
Nash is 17 years old. She dreams of building a different future for herself than the one she stepped into while still just a child. Her wish now is that younger girls will not feel the same pressure to marry before they are ready.
Ann is 19 years old and dreams of becoming a lawyer, so she can speak out against FGM and early marriage. Her motivation comes from her own story – a story that could have looked very different if her mother had not fought fiercely for her.
Some papers have the power to open doors and shape conversations. One such paper was recently produced in the highlands of Kericho, Kenya — now a testament both to the influence of solid data in advocacy and to the value of sustained local presence through County Education Networks.
Uganda’s education sector is set for a major boost after Parliament approved a 12 percent increase for education. For advocates the confirmation marked a meaningful result of their sustained efforts.
Across Zimbabwe, thousands of girls miss school every month simply because they lack access to menstrual products and safe sanitation. However, hope is not lost as a grassroots movement led by youth champions is rewriting that story.
Through community-driven advocacy, JCEFA is joining the Education Out Loud at a pivotal moment, and is looking forward to strengthening collaboration among CSOs in Jordan.
PEAN is driving policy change on inclusive education and employment helping young women like Kerry and Bianca, who are living with disabilities, breaking barriers and shaping their futures.
In Burkina Faso, civil society and youth activists helped raise awareness on the legal gaps around child marriage. They advocated for reform to protect the rights of thousands of girls to complete their education.
From an education system often disconnected from learners’ lived experiences, interests, and future aspirations, youth voices are now driving reforms that make education feel relevant.
Faced with failing schools and forgotten promises, communities in rural Ghana rose up through Education Out Loud grantee CLEAR to reclaim their children’s right to learn.