• ensuring that the child has access to clean water and at least one nutritious meal a day through a school feeding program
• providing a sense of belonging, friends and safety
• teaching life skills and human rights
• encouraging young people to take an active role in social, economic and political decision making as they become adolescents
• providing the tools and knowledge young people need to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS, and to learn about reproductive health among other issues

Why aren't all children in school?

What is the world doing?

What can I do?

Access to education

Despite the existence of the Convention on the Rights of a Child, the most ratified United Nations treaty that lists basic education has a fundamental right, 121 million children world-wide, the majority of them girls, are still being denied education. There are many factors that may prevent children from attending school, these factors include:

• accessibility of school
• family responsibilities like fetching water, caring for younger siblings, generating income, or caring for an ill parent.
• lack of qualified teachers
• school fees including tuition, uniform fees, desk fees, supplies and books

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A global response

Since the International Conference on Education in 1934, there have been at least 21 different occasions that the international community has enforced the importance of primary education as a human right, and argued that every child must be in school. But it still has not happened.

Many international organizations are working to provide universal education by funding the construction of schools, teacher salaries and supplies for students. The Millennium Development Goal on education seeks to achieve universal education by 2015, meaning that every boy and girl will complete a full course of primary schooling. According to UNICEF, achieving universal education for all girls and boys will speed progress toward every other goal.

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Make your voice heard

By volunteering or fundraising for an organization that is working to provide access to education, you'll be helping to improve the quality of life for children around the world. Consider organizing an team to fundraise to build a school or provide school supplies.

For a list of organizations that accept volunteers, click here.

For fundraising ideas and contacts, click here.

Visit the links section to continue your research.

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