'Every child in school' launched as UK promises to double donations
STREET CHILD LAUNCHES ‘EVERY CHILD IN SCHOOL’ APPEAL AS GOVERNMENT PLEDGES TO DOUBLE DONATIONS
- Government to match funds raised for the appeal pound for pound
- to attend launch event at Kensington Palace
20th March 2014, London: Street Child today announced the launch of the Every Child in School appeal to raise funds and awareness for out-of-school children in West Africa; public support for the appeal is set to go twice as far thanks to a pledge from the UK government to match all donations pound for pound.
Every Child in School launches at Street Child’s fifth birthday event tonight at Kensington Palace and will run until 17th June. The launch will be attended by charity supporters, including: Nick Hewer (BBC’s The Apprentice), who will act as compere; former head of the British Army and charity patron, General Lord Dannatt; and football legend, Gianluca Vialli. There will also be an exclusive solo performance by singer/songwriter and Street Child supporter Sarah Harding.
Every Child in School is designed to raise funds and awareness for children being denied their basic right to education in West Africa. The appeal aims to help at least 5,000 of the world’s most vulnerable children gain the chance to go to school by tackling the principle barriers to education. In response to the public’s generosity, all donations during the life of the appeal will be matched pound for pound by the government.
Justine Greening, International Development Secretary, commented: “Far too many children who are out of school and living on the streets of Sierra Leone and Liberia miss out on their education and the chance for a better future. For these children, Street Child offers a valuable lifeline.
“Through their ‘Every Child in School’ appeal, Street Child will build schools, train teachers and create chances for street children to study, helping over 5,000 children. Critically, it is making sure that girls get the same chances to attend school as boys. By matching all public donations pound for pound, we will double the impact the ‘Every Child in School’ campaign has to improve young lives.”
Tom Dannatt, Street Child’s managing director, commented: “I’m delighted to announce the launch of our Every Child in School appeal, which marks a potentially huge step forwards for education in the developing nations in which Street Child works. We’re asking the public to dig deep over the next three months and help us not only to support thousands of children who deserve the right to go to school, but also to tackle the barriers that are stopping future generations of West African children from receiving their right to an education.
“I want to thank the International Development Secretary for the opportunity to offer the public twice the value for their donations to our appeal – and all of our high profile supporters who I am sure will help to make this launch event a very special one.”
For more details on the Every Child in School appeal or on Street Child’s work, please visit our website: www.street-child.co.uk
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Notes:
From a project beginning in 2008 with just 100 street children in one town in Sierra Leone, in just five years Street Child has grown to be one of West Africa’s leading charities for out of school children. Today, Street Child works in 30 locations across Sierra Leone and has a strong foothold in Monrovia, Liberia. Street Child is helping over 20,000 children access education.
Street Child works with children who rely upon the streets for their survival. Where required, our initial goal is to get them off the streets and back with their families. We then work with their families to ensure that they stay in education and have a more stable home life. As a result, Street Child has reunified more than 2,500 children with their families.
The charity also works with remote rural communities where there is little or no access to education. We train teachers and build schools. We also work with the community to create income generating initiatives to help communities ensure that their children will have a sustainable opportunity to go to school. As a result, Street Child has created educational opportunities for around 17,000 rural children.
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