All you need to know about #UpForSchool, the petition and youth rally

Up for School or #upforschool campaign

20 Sep 2014

What is #UpForSchool?

There has been overwhelming demand from A World at School’s youth activists to do more to bring the public into the movement to get 58 million children around the world into school and learning. That is what world leaders promised in 2000 when they drew up the Millennium Development Goals.

#UpForSchool gives people the opportunity to get involved in a truly global movement. Young people are now connecting and mobilising together under the banner #UpForSchool to bring attention to all the different issues that are keeping children from being in school and learning.

From Pakistan to Gaza to Nigeria, young people are starting to connect, make their voices heard and demand action. They are being supported by business leaders, faith leaders, influential individuals, NGOs and others.

But why is #UpForSchool needed?

Progress on education has stalled and school children and schools are under attack around the world.

Nothing changes without pressure and we have an urgent deadline between now and the end of 2015 to bring about real change for millions of children around the world

So what action is being taken?

Youth leaders have also launched the #UpForSchool petition so that people around the world can join the movement. The #UpForSchool petition will demonstrate unprecedented public support for education. And the need to finish the job.

The call will alert presidents, prime ministers, finance and education ministers, donor agencies and parliaments to the new sense of urgency called for by youth themselves.

What can I do?

Sign the #UpForSchool petition and join the campaign. Business, faith groups, networks, NGOs and individuals can promote the petition across their own networks and communities

Where and when will the petition be handed in?

The petition will be delivered to world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015. We have one year to make sure that the political and financial commitments are made that get every child in to school.

What is the #UpForSchool Youth Rally?

As world leaders gather at the UN General Assembly, youth leaders from more than 100 countries will convene in New York City on September 22 to remind them of the Millennium Development Goal promise to ensure every child goes to school by the end of next year.

The #UpForSchool Youth Rally will call for urgent action on behalf of 58 million children currently excluded from school because they are child labourers, married too young, discriminated against, exploited or living in war-torn regions where their schools are under attack.

The rally brings together education campaigners from around the world and is being co-hosted by A World at School and the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, in collaboration with the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth.

The event will also honour inspirational youth leaders on the frontlines supporting education in their communities by announcing the recipients of the UN Special Envoy for Global Education’s Youth Courage Awards.

Who will be at the #UpForSchool Youth Rally?

More than 500 young people including youth leaders and A World at School Global Youth Ambassadors from over 100 countries plus members of the public and students of New York University.

There will also be the following notable attendees: