Education

The challenge: Worldwide, 600 million children and teenagers fail to reach basic levels of learning proficiency. Nearly half of them remain out of school. However, even those in school are not being prepared to succeed in or contribute to society. Among illiterate youth, nearly two out of three are girls – a fact that has remained largely unchanged for the last 20 years. These gaps in education translate to a world where people of all ages are left out of opportunity, and do not reach their full potential as adults.

Our solution: We strengthen education systems to equip girls and boys with the knowledge and skills to help them interact effectively with the world and contribute to a pluralist society. From preschool programs to advanced education for adults, our investments train teachers and administrators, and improve classrooms and schools, with a focus on dismantling the barriers to education for women and girls. We support policy and research to develop and scale affordable, innovative solutions that raise the quality and accessibility of public school systems for the most marginalized children worldwide.

Fellow Features: Meet some Fellows in Tanzania, Kenya, and the Kyrgyz Republic

Growing up in the suburbs of Montreal, Mélina Nantel’s passion for social justice began at a young age and has

Dispatch from a Fellow: The teacher I am becoming

Photos and words by Katiana Zubryn, who is working in Mombasa, Kenya as part of AKFC’s International Youth Fellowship Program.

The Graduate: Meet Mwinyi in Kenya

Early childhood is a critical period of development, with lifelong implications for a child’s growth and success.

Meet the Fellows of 2024-25

In July, our 2024-2025 cohort of International Youth Fellows jetted off for their placements in Africa and Asia. We caught

Digging Deeper: Meet Esther in Uganda

Girls in crisis settings are 2.5 times more likely to be out of primary school and 90 percent more likely to be out of secondary school.

Inspiring inclusion in Africa and Asia

This International Women’s Day, we celebrated changemakers who are driving social, economic, and political empowerment for women and girls.

Leveraging the power of the world’s most popular sport

In rural Uganda, a group of dedicated teachers are leveraging the power of the world’s most popular sport transform their school.

Running in the family: Shaping generations of learners in East Africa

From 3-year-old Mariam to 21-year-old Ali, all of Mealii’s children attended their local pre-primary school in rural Kenya.

Beyond the conflict: How education is unlocking hope in Syria

Globally, an estimated 222 million children and youth living in situations affected by conflict do not have access to education