Children in Crisis Zones
Every child has the right to learn, even in times of conflict, disaster and displacement. Despite its life-saving impact, education remains one of the most underfunded areas in humanitarian response, receiving less than 3% of global aid.
In Gaza, the blockade has restricted the flow of humanitarian aid, and the ongoing military operation has denied Palestinian children their right to education in the most extreme ways, severely impacting their hopes and opportunities for the future.
In Lebanon, recent conflict has displaced millions while disrupting the education of 500,000 children. Many refugee children have never stepped into a classroom. Even before the current crisis, 57% of Syrian refugee children were out of school.
In Yemen, the humanitarian crisis ranks as one of the worst in the world. Schools are overcrowded, and children walk into class hungry, unable to concentrate or learn.
In crisis zones, a classroom is never just a classroom. It’s a source of food, a shelter from violence, a place to heal and a pathway to dignity. At READ Foundation, our education programmes go beyond the blackboard, delivering trauma care, clean water, hygiene kits, nutritious meals and support for families in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen.
We ensure children living in crises have access to education and a way to break free from the traumas they experience.
Whether fleeing violence, living in a refugee camp or recovering from disaster, children need more than just shelter and food; they need the safety, structure and hope that education provides. Schools are places where children are protected from exploitation and receive vital support.
In Gaza, we’ve created Temporary Learning Spaces for displaced children, places where they can resume education and start healing.
In Lebanon, our mobile School in a Bus brings education directly into refugee camps, reaching children most likely to be left behind. Our buses provide psychosocial support, distribute hygiene kits and food.
In Yemen, we’re rebuilding schools, installing WASH facilities, and running Breakfast Clubs where children start each day with nutritious meals. Since its launch, school attendance has risen by 30% and test scores have improved by 22%.
How You Can Help
Your support can help us provide emergency aid to children and their families during crisis and conflict.
Where Most Needed
Any Amount
Donate to our most needed fund. Every donation, big or small, can change a child's life amidst crisis.
Donate Now
NFI Kits (Lebanon & Gaza)
£150
Can offer an NFI (non-food items kit), which includes hygiene and sanitary essentials, bedding, and more.
Donate Now
Safe Learning Spaces
£400
(Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen)
Can provide safe learning spaces and supplies to ensure education continues even amid crisis.
Donate Now
Psychosocial Support
£800Can offer a week of targeted psychosocial activities for children and young women, providing critical mental health support. Donate Now
Without education, children in crisis face shattered futures— your support rebuilds hope.
During a crisis, education is the first thing that children lose. The disruption doesn’t affect just children. Communities lose their foundation for recovery and peace when an entire generation grows up without access to learning. Education during crises protects children’s fundamental rights and provides stability in chaotic circumstances.
At READ Foundation, we believe education is not only a lifeline during emergencies but also transformative. Our Education in Emergencies work provides more than immediate protection; we invest in a generation with the power to rebuild their communities and futures.
A closer look
Nearly 85 million children in crisis zones are out of school globally—
37% of all crisis-affected children
—with refugees, girls, and those with disabilities disproportionately impacted.
Education is the single most
powerful tool to protect children
in crisis—it sustains hope, shields
them from harm, and rebuilds futures.
72 million children are out of school—without intervention, they risk exploitation, forced labour, and no way out of poverty.
500
Displaced families provided with emergency aid in Lebanon.
20,769
Students provided with safe and inclusive learning environments in Yemen.
177,000
People supported with essential aid in Gaza.
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