“There should be no mystery about how our children are learning” - Julia Gillard

A teacher sits with a student as she’s reading a new book. The child is learning new words, and stringing sentences together. In another classroom, students are repeating their times tables and getting their heads around maths puzzles. In schools around the world, children’s minds are developing and teachers are guiding their path. But there is still work to be done in ensuring all children have access to quality education.

In her article for Guardian Australia former Prime Minister Julia Gillard explores the fact there are enormous gaps in our understanding of how well children are learning around the world. “There should be no mystery about how our children are learning,” she writes. The importance of testing shouldn't be underestimated when it comes to providing all children quality education.
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Improving Sanitation – and Health – in Cambodia

In Cambodia, poverty, a lack of infrastructure, and a long standing practice of open defecation all contribute to poor sanitation. In areas where people go to the bathroom in the open, contact with feces can result in illnesses being easily transmitted through what is known as the four “Fs”: food, fingers, flies, and fields. The most common condition is diarrhea, which still causes more deaths in children under the age of 5 than HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, combined.

Even when death isn’t an outcome, repeated bouts of diarrhea at a young age can often lead to malnutrition and stunted growth. In addition, when children miss school and adults miss work due to sickness, economic opportunities are often lost.

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Health: Indonesia

Because I am a girl…
I have the right to be healthy. 

Malnutrition is a contributing factor to over half of all deaths of children. If a child does survive without the proper nutrition, the malnutrition can haunt her for literally for the rest of her life. She may suffer from chronic health problems, stunted growth, and decreased mental capacity — which can hamper her educational and vocational achievement. In Indonesia, over 7.5 million children suffer from stunted growth due to malnutrition. 

Elever besøger deres fadderbørn

"Det er den største oplevelse nogensinde."

Sådan fortæller syv elever og deres lærer fra Borupgaard Gymnasium, der i denne uge er rejst hele vejen fra Ballerup til Bondo i Kenya for at besøge seks af gymnasiets 43 fadderbørn.
Skolens elever og lærere giver hver 10 kroner om måneden for at støtte unge i Kenya gennem Plan Danmark. Et projekt der skaber engagement blandt skolens elever.
”Det er et fantastisk fedt projekt, hvor hver elev har mulighed for at støtte. Vi gør en kæmpe forskel for et overskueligt beløb,” siger Simon Albrechtsen, som er med på rejsen til Kenya. Ud over at besøge fadderbørnene skal gruppen også besøge skoler og flere af Plans projekter.

Eleverne har sendt en videohilsen hjem til Danmark. Se den her

A new source of water and a clean perspective

Ma Khin is 10 years old. She lives in Myanmar with her family. Although Ma Khin loves going to school, it’s not always possible. That’s because she spends many of her days fetching water for her family during the dry season.

It’s a problem for most children like Ma Khin, but an even bigger problem for the communities where Plan works in Myanmar. That’s because for years, open ponds have been the main source of water for these communities.

As you can imagine, the pond water is unsafe. It leads to high levels of infection and disease in Myanmar’s children. And during the dry season, the pond water dries up, forcing children like Ma Khin to collect water miles away, missing out on school.

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The Water Girl

Shallow swamps, steep ravines, and death-defying cliffs... When there’s no access to clean water at home, families in Timor-Leste have to go to great lengths for a safe supply – and the responsibility often falls to young girls, like 9-year-old Ludivina. Now, thanks to a simple water pump from Plan International, the young girl has the opportunity to transform her life...

It’s time for Ludivina’s morning walk – a ritual which takes place every day before she goes to school. As the sun rises, the 9-year-old steps out of her wooden house, water bottles in hand, and leads her two younger siblings behind their house.

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Protection: India

Because I am a girl…
I have the right to a childhood, not a job. 

Rolling beedis is hard work for anyone, particularly a young girl like Shanu.
Read her story.

As many as 60 million children are engaged in labor in India — that’s more child laborers than in any other country in the world. Certain types of labor, such as working in factories and rolling beedis (cigarettes), can be hazardous to a child’s health, especially when they are exposed at a young age. And no matter what type of labor a child is engaged in, it robs her of her childhood and cripples her opportunities for the future. 

Schoolgirls are flushed with pride on World Water Day

Girls in a rural area of Pakistan are celebrating this World Water Day with new toilet and hand washing facilities which are making their primary school happier and healthier. When community worker, Rai Nasir, heard the local primary school for girls in Vehari, Pakistan, did not have a proper toilet or a clean water supply, he knew he had to do something about it. “Women and children are the most neglected segment of my society. I am always keen to do something positive for the children in my community, so when some of the parents told me about the need for a water pump in the girls’ primary school, I took it upon myself to sort the matter out,” says Rai. Rai contacted the school’s head teacher, Azra Parveen. The two of them decided to join forces to campaign for funding for better hygiene facilities at the school.

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Why water matters

Krissy Nicholson knows a thing or two about water. To celebrate World Water Day, we ask Plan’s Water and Sanitation Program Manager why water really matters.

I have worked as an aid worker for more than ten years. I often hear the phrase ‘water is life’. But what does it really mean? I still struggle to fathom the reality of this statement. 
At the moment, hundreds of millions of people live without safe water. As a result, lives are lost and people suffer including the 2,000 young children who die every single day. This is just unacceptable! In addition, girls and women walk for hours just to collect a bucket of water, often keeping them out of school. And if they are able to go to school, there is often a lack of safe water facilities at the school so children can’t stay healthy and hydrated, and there is no water to wash their hands after using the bathroom which furthers the risk of disease. Girls face an extra challenge when they get their periods because there’s no place for them to wash, which in turn increases dropout rates and continues the cycle of poverty.

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A journey to bring clean water to a community in Sudan

You never miss the water till the well runs dry. But what if the water was never really there in the first place?

In the community of Eldamokia, in central Sudan, clean water was hard to come by. In fact, a survey was conducted to try and find a suitable area to build a new well. Results showed there was no place with a sufficient water supply in Eldamokia. The closest water source was located 3 km away in a different community.

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School-2-School Linking

School-2-School Linking (S2S) is a program that connects young people here in the United States with their peers in the developing countries where Plan works. Through their S2S Link, young people learn about life in other parts of the world, engage in educational activities with their linking partners, and build relationships that bridge global divides.

Start your link today: planusa.org/s2s

Plan indgår samarbejde med CBRE

Plan har indgået et samarbejde med verdens førende erhvervsejendomsrådgiver CBRE med det formål at forbedre levevilkårene for børn og unge – især piger – i Sierra Leone.
På verdensplan mangler 65 millioner piger på skolebænken. Uddannelse til piger forbedrer ikke alene pigernes egne levevilkår, det har også stor betydning for familierne og lokalsamfundene. I sidste ende kan uddannelse bryde en cirkel af fattigdom.

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Seeing Africa - and My Father - with New Eyes

Togo is a different kind of Africa than I had visited before. There were no tightly packed safari trucks toting westerners around the savannah. No picturesque beaches covered with lounging tourists. In fact, we didn’t encounter any tourists while there. Life in Togo is difficult. But the people I met seemed genuinely happy.

When we first arrived in Kparatao, the village where my father served in the Peace Corps, we had no idea what our reception would be. We honestly expected to shake a few hands, drink some Fantas, take some pictures, and head out. That imagined scenario couldn’t be farther from what actually happened. We were greeted by hundreds of people, children and adults alike, waiting to usher us into the village. They danced, played music, spoke to us, gave us gifts, and more. They welcomed us into the village like old friends. It was really unbelievable.

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Girls Are Human Beings Too!

Humaira, 18, from Pakistan, believes every girl has the right to an education. Yet, in her country, girls face many hurdles when it comes to going to school, such as distance, absent teachers, or child marriage – all of which this young woman has witnessed. Undeterred, Humaira has vowed to make it to medical school once she has passed her exams and, in her spare time, she tutors girls at one of Plan International’s local NFE (Non Formal Education) centers.

“I want to make sure that all girls in Pakistan get an education,” says Humaira. “Education for girls is essential. They become aware and can learn life skills. In hard times, they can earn a livelihood and help support their family.”

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Empowerment: Sierra Leone

Because I am a girl…I have the right to be whatever I want to be.

Danica, a young teenager in rural Sierra Leone, has big dreams.
Read her story.

After emerging from a ravaging civil war marked by horrific cases of violence, rape, and human rights violations, development indicators listed Sierra Leone as one of the worst places in the world both socially and economically. Although the country has today achieved relative national stability, violence is still very much a part of life for the majority of girls in Sierra Leone. Teen pregnancy has reached alarming rates among girls in Sierra Leone. Over 40% of young women had their first baby by the age of 18, and 12% gave birth by age 15. Pregnancy is a leading cause for school dropout among girls.

Too close for comfort: Living on the edge in Vietnam

Playing shouldn’t be a game of risk for kids, and going to school shouldn’t put children’s lives in danger. Yet, that was a daily reality for one community in Vietnam.

In the mountainous community of Hoang Su Phi, young children make their way to this kindergarten facility every day. The problem is, their outdoor play area rests on the edge of a cliff that’s way too close for comfort.

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Young people trained as World Cup stewards

More than a hundred young people from one of the most deprived parts of Brazil have been trained to become football stewards at the World Cup.
Plan has already trained 150 young men and women in host city Natal to work at the Arenas das Dunas during the event and will train hundreds more after the tournament to ensure a long-lasting legacy for young people living in the city.

Jacqueline, aged 22, has her own child but is also responsible for her six siblings because her mother is in hospital with psychiatric problems.
She attended the course, which taught her about customer service and communication, and now feels more optimistic about her future.
“My dream is to have a steady job so I can finish building my house and help take care of my family,” she says."

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Gender-based Violence in Malawi

Having experienced the violence young women are subjected to first-hand in Malawi, Abikanile, 17, is passionate about speaking up for girls’ rights – and she’s not afraid to let the world know what it’s like to be a young woman in her country.

“I was nearly raped by seven boys after I finished playing netball,” reveals 17-year-old Abikanile from Malawi. “Thankfully, I escaped as I used the self-defense moves I learned from my Girl Guides Club.”

Sexual violence is a major issue in Malawi, particularly for young women. “I am not the only one who was nearly raped,” says Abikanile. “We hear of so many girls being raped by their fathers, cousins, and other men, only to discover that the police didn’t do anything about it when it was reported.”Læs mere her!

Youth engagement: for students and youth

With the youth programs at Plan, you could make a difference for the issues that matter most to you. Connect with our network of youth activists and to campaign for change together.Download our flyer! 

Youth United for Global Action and Awareness (YUGA) is a nationwide network of ambitious young people who take action on world issues. Through campaigns and awareness-raising activities, YUGA members educate their schools and communities on global challenges and engage them in finding solutions. Learn more–Download our flyer!

Start your journey with YUGA by registering a new YUGA club or chapter, or a new YUGA campaign. When you do, you will get access to all of our resources, including toolkits, campaign tips, our eNews, and much more!

Read more here!

World turning away from century's worst crisis

The world is turning away from what could become the worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century, as nearly a million vulnerable people are driven from their homes and are facing starvation and disease because of an escalating conflict in South Sudan.

Nearly one million people have been driven from their homes, and most are hiding in the bush. Families are surviving on whatever wild fruits and weeds they can find. They are desperately hungry and in need of help.

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Tackling poverty together

Plan Australia is taking part in a five-year $90 million program to reduce poverty in Africa. The program, running 2011-2016, is a partnership between the Australian Government and ten Australian non-government organisations and their African partners. Throughout 11 African countries, the Australia Africa Community Engagement Scheme (AACES) is working in the areas of food security, maternal and child health, and water and sanitation programs. The work is focusing particularly on women, children and people living with disability.

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Sydsudans børn alene på flugt

”Vi hørte pludselig skud, mens vores forældre var ude. Vi prøvede at holde os inden døre, men udenfor begyndte folk at skrige. Vi pakkede hurtigt vores ting og flygtede.”
Emma på 17 år bor i flygtningelejren Baratuku i det nordlige Uganda med sine tre yngre brødre. Efter de fire søskende flygtede fra deres hjem i Sydsudan, har de ikke hørt fra deres forældre. Nu har de boet en måned i lejren, og de ved ikke, om deres forældre er i live.
Volden i Sydsudan er eskaleret som følge af den politiske konflikt mellem Sydsudans regering og oprørsstyrker. Det har fået 716.100 børn og voksne til at flygte internt i Sydsudan, mens 156.800 er flygtet til nabolandene. Ifølge FN er mere end 46.800 flygtet til Uganda. Heriblandt Emma og hendes brødre, som befinder sig i den overfyldte flygtningelejr.

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Microfinance: Vietnam

Because I am a girl…
I have the right to manage my own money.

Cho is inspired by her mother and sets high goals for herself.
Read her story. 

Burdened by the demands of raising their children without the means to earn an income, young mothers in poor regions of Vietnam can end up trapped in a cycle of poverty with little hope of a better life. However, with even basic financial literacy, young women can truly take control of their lives and plan for their futures. Additionally, with financial security comes a tremendous sense of empowerment. Over time, the community starts to see these young women and girls as valuable contributors to their households rather than as financial burdens.

Celebrating women and girls on International Women’s Day

Each year, on March 8, International Women’s Day gives Canadians the opportunity to recognize women and their accomplishments, and the progress made to achieve gender equality, here at home and around the world. And, do we have a lot to celebrate!

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Grandmothers inspiring change for children

This year’s International Women’s Day on March 8 takes the theme of Inspiring Change. In Couffo, Benin, a group of grandmothers is supporting and advising young mothers to help prevent malnutrition in children under five. “I’m 50 years old, I’ve six children and two grandsons,” says Victorine Mousouko. “My children listen to me and follow my advice, particularly about bringing up their own children. They are happy to leave them with me all the time,” she adds. Victorine lives in Hanionhoué village, in the south-western district of Couffo in Benin. Hanionhoué is among many villages in Benin that have very high rates of malnutrition, particularly among children under five. Victorine is part of a group of grandmothers who support and advise young mothers to prevent and treat malnutrition. They use locally available foods and traditional recipes to prepare meals which are cheap but also nutritious.

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3 ways we’re keeping families nourished in Sierra Leone

Nothing beats a hot meal after a long journey to school and a morning filled with classes. Or a home-cooked meal after a long day of work. It’s the fuel that keeps us going.
But it’s hard to learn on an empty stomach. And hunger pangs are no match for an effective workday. With no promise of food, priorities begin to shift. Children miss out on school and parents lack the strength to provide for their families.

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Walk4Wells - think global, act local

Walk4Wells is a dynamic event that puts YOU in the shoes of a young boy or girl who has to walk in search of water every day. When you, your family, your friends, and your community join together for a Walk4Wells walk-a-thon, you begin to understand the challenge of finding clean water—and become part of the solution. Take the first step today!

Read more here!

Girls Taking on Role of Mothers During Conflict

Separated from their parents during the conflict, South Sudan’s teenage refugee girls
are taking on the role of mothers to their younger siblings in the Uganda camps. However, getting back to school – and normality – is key if the girls are to escape the burden of early parenthood, and survive the crisis with their education intact.

“We started hearing the gun shots while our parents were out, and we tried to stay at home, but we heard people screaming. So we packed our things and left.” Læs mere her!

Too Young to Wed: international action for girls

Plan and partners are taking the call to end child marriage to the United Nations in Geneva this March with a striking photo exhibition Too Young to Wed. The exhibition by award-winning photographer Stephanie Sinclair shows the plight of child brides around the world and coincides with the 25th session of the Human Rights Council and International Women’s Day on 8 March. Plan, together with the associated governments and organisations, is also organising a high level panel debate on child marriage at the UN on 3 March to draw attention to girls like Haoua – one of the 14 million girls worldwide who are forced to marry each year.

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Plan International's Big Blue Bags Deliver Hope to Children Affected by Haiyan

“Angel is a special girl,” says her carer Corazon Barrel, as she waits to collect the small girl in a pretty pale blue dress from the Plan-supported daycare session in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

Today’s session is taking place in a tiny concrete room. Typhoon Haiyan, the largest storm ever to make landfall, destroyed the adjacent daycare center that sits on the coastline. With windows blown out by the sheer force of the storm, the center is filled with debris. All learning materials were destroyed as well.

In the corner of the concrete room sits one of Plan’s “Big Blue Bags,” filled with toys made from indigenous and recycled materials. The resources were made by the teacher, who attended a Plan workshop on indigenous toy-making just last year. Thanks to these toys and learning materials, the sessions are helping to restore a sense of normalcy for children like Angel.

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Plan USA

Throughout the last year the focus of each month has been different covering all of Plan International's core areas and campaigns: education, health, water and sanitation, protection, economic security, emergencies, child participation and sexual health, including HIV, Because I am a Girl, Count Every Child and Learn Without Fear.

Over the next six months, until the end of June, the focus will change to specific Plan foundraising countries and what they do.

The focus of March is Plan USA.