International Day of Education 2026
This International Day of Education, we reflect on the theme “The power of youth in cocreating education.” For READ Foundation, this a reality we see in the work we do, motivated by the belief that an educated community is an empowered community. But education that truly empowers must be designed with, not just for, the people it serves, and shaped by the realities they face.
In the communities we support, education is more than classrooms, textbooks or certificates. It is also protection, inclusion, and stability. With young people under the age of 30 making up more than half of the global population, their lived experience is essential in shaping learning. When young people provide input into curriculum design, effective learning environments or community-led solutions, education becomes more relevant and more inclusive. It can respond directly to the challenges they are navigating including conflict, displacement, climate shocks, gender inequality and economic hardship, and becomes something they can relate to in meaningful ways.
Every child and young person has the right to learn, even in times of crisis. During such times, young people are often the first to organise informal learning spaces, support younger children, and advocate for their right to continue learning. Yet they are too often excluded from decisions that shape their learning. At READ Foundation, we deliver emergency education in places like Gaza, Yemen, and Lebanon, providing not only lessons, but also safety, psychosocial support, access to safe water, sanitation, and nutritious meals. We restore learning and empower children and young people to rebuild their futures.
Education brings structure to chaos and a lifeline to those who have lost so much. Yet, despite its life-saving impact, education remains one of the most underfunded areas in humanitarian response. These realities guided the Education in Emergencies and Protracted Crises Convening, co-hosted by READ Foundation UK and the Foundation for Education Development (FED). Bringing together a variety of participants including youth representatives, the convening highlighted the systemic barriers crisis affected learners face and the need for more resilient education systems. Youth representatives emphasised that maintaining trusted relationships with teachers and peers is as critical to motivation as access to academic content itself, and that without emotional support, learning spaces can become places of stress rather than stability.
International Day of Education is a moment to reaffirm a shared belief: education is one of the most powerful tools we have to transform lives. But this can only be achieved when education is inclusive and co-created with those it serves, especially young people who are navigating some of the world’s most complex challenges.
