March 23, 2022 – WASHINGTON, DC, and LONDON – Today, Global Fund for Children (GFC) announces a new initiative to help children who have experienced pandemic-related education disruptions access and thrive in learning environments that prepare them for future success.
The Partnership to Educate All Kids (PEAK) initiative, which is supported by a $5 million grant from the LEGO Foundation, will reach an estimated 100,000 children in communities hard hit by the global health crisis. It will provide grants and capacity development to at least 50 community-based organizations in Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia that support the learning and development of children aged 6 to 12 from marginalized communities.
“The pandemic has had a devastating impact on children’s education, forcing schools to close and pushing more young people into poverty and child labor,” said GFC President and CEO John Hecklinger. “Kids around the world need urgent support to return to school and catch up on missed learning so they can build a brighter post-pandemic future for themselves and their families.”
“We are at a transformational moment for educational systems everywhere,” said Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, Chief Executive Officer of the LEGO Foundation. “Together we need to make a leap in playful learning, creating a future that promotes inclusive education, lifelong learning opportunities for all children, and where holistic skills and innovation are central.”
The PEAK initiative will enable local organizations to sustain or expand their work ensuring children are able to access education and return to classrooms; addressing learning gaps; offering services such as literacy programs, after-school tutoring, and digital classrooms; supporting emotional and social wellbeing; and advocating for children who have been shut out of the education system. It will also provide local organizations with capacity development to integrate learning through play into their educational activities.
This initiative is made possible by the generous support of the LEGO Foundation, which is dedicated to building a future where learning through play empowers children to become creative, engaged, lifelong learners.
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Global Fund for Children partners to build a world where all children and youth enjoy equal resources and opportunities in society and live free from violence, discrimination, and exploitation. To that end, GFC invests in innovative local organizations, helping them deepen their impact and develop their capacity for social change. Together, GFC and its partners advance the rights of children and youth facing poverty and injustice and equip them with the tools and skills to reach their full potential. Since 1997, GFC has invested $51 million in more than 900 organizations, reaching more than 11 million children and youth worldwide.
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Global Fund for Children (GFC) UK Trust, created in 2006, is a UK registered charity (UK charity number 1119544). We work to generate vital income, create new fundraising opportunities, and raise awareness of the invaluable work of GFC’s grassroots grantees. Our aim is to extend the reach of GFC in the United Kingdom, Europe, and beyond.
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