We set agendas through our reports and calls to action, forge powerful partnerships with foundations, businesses, young people, campaigners and civil society organizations. We unlock financing and political will at the highest level while innovating solutions focused on the most marginalised.
For almost 25 years, Theirworld has been right where we can make the biggest difference – harnessing the potential of education to deliver
lasting change in the lives of young people.
Our programmes deliver resources and educational materials, train teachers and restart education for students disrupted by humanitarian crises. We’ve improved outcomes for the very youngest children through investments in research and tireless campaigning.
For more than two decades, Theirworld has been dedicated to innovation, campaigning and project delivery designed to give children and young people the best start in life, a safe place to learn and skills for the future. The charity was founded in 2002 with the initial aim of supporting scientific and community research on the most vulnerable new-born babies and children in the UK.
Its pioneering work continues today with the Theirworld Edinburgh Birth Cohort.
In 2004, Theirworld’s Small Grants Programme was launched, focusing on enabling breakthroughs in health and education at the community level. Since its inception, more than £1 million has been invested in local grassroots organisations supporting thousands of young people.
In 2012, Theirworld’s work turned global with a movement, A World at School, created to galvanise support for education financing and especially for children caught up in emergencies. In the same year, the Global Business Coalition for Education was founded as an initiative of Theirworld to boost education by collaborating with the business community.
In 2015-16 Theirworld’s leadership on education in emergencies had a major early success with the double-shift school scheme for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, a plan backed by UN agencies and taken forward by the Lebanese Ministry of Education. It led to more than 300,000 displaced children receiving an education in Lebanon.
Theirworld came up with a way to solve the refugee education crisis on Greece’s islands. The Greek government followed our blueprint and partnered with the UN to provide education to all 26,000 school-age refugee children.
We knew transformative action was needed in the education and care of the world’s youngest children. So we launched the Act For Early Years campaign, now a global movement of more than 200 organisations whose work has led to growing investment in the early years and the first-ever International Finance Summit for Early Childhood, to be held in 2027.
Theirworld is working harder than ever to increase our impact and exceed our targets to drive education equity so that no child is denied their right to learn and thrive.
Our strategy mobilises partners, investment and advocacy to drive education change at scale through locally-led partnerships. As we start year four, we are on track to meet or exceed our targets, having made strong progress and going beyond expectations in some areas:
Supporters of Theirworld and GBC-Education include global corporations and executives, major social enterprises, charitable foundations, and prominent entrepreneurs. Throughout our history we have also succeeded in galvanising their commitments with financial action from donor governments such as the UK, the Netherlands, Canada, Scandinavia and the EU.
When supporting a charity, it is important to believe in the mission, leadership and strategy. That is why I support Theirworld’s work which continues to make an impact in the lives of children around the world.
Kate James – heads Kairos Philanthropy, her family foundation, chairs the Board of Vital Voices, and serves on the boards of Unreasonable, the US Board of the King’s Trust and World Reader.
As a Theirworld Trustee and donor, I believe in the impact the organisation makes for young children throughout the world. From the projects I have seen firsthand, Theirworld is unlocking big change.
Lucy Doughty – Trustee of Theirworld and Chair of the Doughty Family Foundation, an organisation working in the areas of health, financial hardship, and education.
As a mother myself I know of the power of education and the opportunities it can provide...and that’s why we’re proud to support Theirworld.
Clara Govier, Managing Director, Postcode Lottery
We recognise the crucial role that education plays in transforming the lives of young people. By supporting Theirworld, we hope to positively impact the lives of children in the most difficult places to reach – and leveraging technology and innovation to make quality education even more accessible to many
Anna and Mohamed El-Erian
For more than 20 years, Reed Smith has been a proud partner of Theirworld.
Casey Ryan, Global Managing Partner Reed Smith LLP
If the money we raised helped save just one child, then it’s been worth it. It’s also our way of never forgetting Thomas.
Dave Jowett
Investing in Theirworld has high returns for young people throughout the world. By championing the Big Give, I have been able to leverage my contribution 4:1 – making a greater impact towards ending the global education crisis.
Stuart Roden – non-Executive Chair of Hetz Ventures, Tresidor Investment Management and Chair of Lewis Advisors. Stuart is also Chair and Founder of Unlocking Potential and Chair of The Design Museum.
Our mission is to ensure every child has the best start in life, a safe place to learn and skills for the future. Across this mission, we harness the potential of education in five vital areas: gender equality, inclusion, peace and security, health and nutrition, and climate action. Because sustainable change happens in communities and is built through trust and partnership, we work in more than 140 countries – from the United Kingdom and the United States to Africa, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
The earliest years of a child’s life are crucial to their long-term development. This is well evidenced, yet few governments have done enough to address it, as other global priorities compete for attention. Knowing that this period of childhood is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – and that without urgent action millions of children would be left behind – we launched the Act For Early Years campaign in 2023.
such as actor and comedian Matt Lucas and former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt to pretend to be toddlers in videos supporting a ‘Global Tantrum’ campaign.
covered by the Financial Times, Economist, New York Times and Politico Europe
to amplify the voices of young children at national and local levels in countries throughout the world.
with our partners Omnicom to capture the attention of leaders during global summits in New York, Rio de Janeiro and South Africa
with stakeholders from business, government, academia, civil society and the nonprofit community.
Conflicts and emergencies continue to displace and affect children. Wars, violence, famine, natural disasters and climate events cause hardship and trauma across the world, including Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, the DRC, Haiti, Myanmar and Syria.
About 75 million children have their education disrupted by conflict or emergencies. But learning is too often an afterthought when disasters strike or wars rage. Theirworld works with partners to ensure as many children and young people as possible have a safe place to learn. Education gives them a sense of structure, safety and hope.
In 2026, our Global Youth Ambassador programme will enrol its 10,000th young person, making it the largest trained cohort of youth campaigners helping to end the global education crisis. Our programme builds catalysts for change, supporting young people to make an Impact In their communities, countries and on the global stage. During the two-year programme, youth participate in training modules, workshops and resources, building their skills and confidence. Former Global Youth Ambassadors have gone on to win global prizes, run successful social enterprises, work at UN organisations, write books and specialise in corporate sustainability. Read more here
“Being at UNGA was more than just a transformative way to empower my activism. It was a unique and powerful experience that I never imagined I would have access to at such a young age.”
“I believe young people can dream of a better world—and make it a reality.”
We’d like to say a huge thank you to our long-term partners who have given us such vital support.
If you’d like to see your logo alongside this fantastic group of businesses, please contact us fundraising@theirworld.org
Theirworld is more than an organisation. It is a network of youth, social entrepreneurs, campaigners, businesses and researchers striving to ensure all young people have the best start in life, a safe place to learn and skills for the future.
