A group of girls read outside a Save the Children supported girls primary school in Bosthaun, Afghanistan.

Education is vital to lasting positive change in children's lives. Yet for millions of children and youth in developing countries, education is beyond reach. Save the Children reaches the world's most marginalized children — those who urgently need education to survive and thrive in more than 30 countries around the world.

Save the Children's Education programs reach children at risk — girls, ethnic minorities, and children affected by HIV/AIDS, wars, and other catastrophes — from early childhood through young adulthood.

We focus on communities in greatest need, design programs that minimize obstacles to participation, and make the content of education relevant to the realities of children’s lives.

Quality of learning at our schools is very high; typically children from Save the Children village schools score better on government exams than children enrolled in government schools.

A young girl practices math at a Save the Children-supported school in Mali, Africa. January 2010. Photo credit: Joshua Roberts.

Learn More

Watch video and read more about how Save the Children's Healing and Education through ART (HEART) program is helping children in challenging circumstances cope.

Watch our slideshow about educating Josna, a young girl, at a SHIKHON school in Bangladesh supported by Save the Children.

Visit our YouTube channel to watch a video diary in Mali by America Ferrera, Save the Children's Artist Ambassador for education, plus videos of our green playgrounds and preschools in Mozambique.

See our interactive web feature "State of the World's Mothers 2009: Investing in the Early Years" to find out about our early childhood development programs around the world and in the U.S.

Learn about our global campaign to Rewrite the Future. Since 2007, this campaign has improved the quality of education for 10.6 million children living in war zones and emergencies. 

Do More

Join the 1Goal campaign.  The campaign, of which Save the Children is a member, seeks to engage 2010 World Cup soccer fans to ensure 72 million out-of-school children get access to education. 

Check out our Gift Catalog to see more ways to support our education programs.

Last Updated, August 2010