Davos’ youngest delegates call for a global fund for education

January 26th, 2007

Today’s press release detailing the call for a global fund for education by our team at Davos:

Six young people, aged between 21 and 24, will today challenge the World Economic Forum to establish a Global Fund for Education that will focus on ensuring the quality of education for all.

The team, who come from Australia, Egypt, Israel, Mauritius, South Korea, and Switzerland, will set out their ideas in a session at Davos called Wisdom of Youth, to be chaired by Jonathan Charles of the BBC. They will share the platform at 11am on Friday 26 January with the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, and Queen Rania of Jordan.

The Global Fund for Education would work on a similar basis to the highly successful existing Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria, co-ordinating the efforts of private and public donors worldwide. The group believes a focus on developing the quality of what is taught in schools is vital, if education is to play a full role in ensuring that students are equipped to live and work in increasingly complex and diverse societies.

Speaking about her hopes for making the Global Fund for Education a reality, Yossra Taha, 22 from Egypt said:

“The Global Fund for Education can help the world address one of its greatest challenges, building active global citizens through education. I believe we can create generations that are socially responsible and active participants in their societies, and that have awareness and respect for other peoples’ civilizations, cultures, religions, and race.”

Chanda Ghoorah, 24 from Mauritius added:

“Our goal, as young leaders of tomorrow, is to create a common platform that will focus on quality education. We believe that schools should prepare students to respond successfully to the challenges of an increasingly diverse society and global economy.”

The representatives of the Global Fund for Education were brought together by the British Council in a unique meeting held in Greenwich, London last week. Selected from a group of 60 people aged between 20 and 25, from 49 countries, the team plans to represent not only their colleagues, but their whole generation at Davos. Armin Stähli, 21 from Switzerland commented:

“Although we’re young, we are full of potential. Challenging today’s leaders, and using international forums like WEF to set out our concerns and solutions is just the beginning of a shift in the power equation.”

Martin Davidson, Deputy-Director General of the British Council, who is attending Davos, and who will also participate in the Wisdom of Youth session said:

“I believe the six young people behind the Global Fund for Education have focused on an extremely important issue for education and its impact on our societies. Ensuring the quality of what our children learn is vital if education is to play a full part in helping us develop societies where we make the most of diversity.”

Entry Filed under: Global Fund for Education