Education & Child Protection

When Shihab (10) noticed that his friends were reading sentences from their notebooks, he felt they were decoding a code that he had never learned to identify. All he saw were symbols that didn’t make much sense: “A looked like tents, B was a pair of eyes, and C just looked like an open mouth. I wasn’t seeing them as part of a larger word or sentence.” His inability to make sense of the words stifled him as his peers read out loud.

Save the Children Türkiye’nin İstanbul, Hatay ve Adıyaman’da yürüttüğü iki araştırma, çocukların eğitimden uzaklaşmasının çoğu zaman tek bir nedene bağlı olmadığını gösteriyor. Ekonomik zorluklar, ulaşım sorunları, öğrenme kayıpları, psikososyal güçlükler, zorbalık ve sosyal dışlanma gibi etkenler, çocukların okulla bağını zaman içinde zayıflatabiliyor.

Nearly two-thirds of children surveyed across four districts in southern Yemen are out of school following more than a decade of conflict and displacement, Save the Children said as the new school year begins.

a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } By Eyimofe Samuel Omede Discover how Save the Children's Future for Every Child (FuFEC) Project is helping families in cocoa-producing communities keep children in school, strengthen livelihoods, and build lasting resilience

Day centres operated by local civil society organisations provide vital community-based social protection services for children facing the greatest barriers to their wellbeing and development. To help ensure that some of the most vulnerable children in the region continue receiving the support they need, Save the Children North West Balkans, together with local partner organisations Nova Generacija and Otaharin in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the Centre for Youth Integration in Serbia, has launched a new partnership with BingX, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange and Web3-AI company.

More children in Yemen have been killed by landmines and other unexploded ordnances (UXOs) in the first six months of this year than all of 2025, according to new Save the Children analysis

Ending child marriage takes more than a law. Save the Children, the Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs, and the Child Justice Steering Committee brought together investigators and prosecutors to strengthen enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2024. Every child deserves a safe childhood and the chance to thrive.

Child casualties in Ukraine are surging once again, Save the Children said, with new analysis from the child rights organisation finding that the number of child casualties in June was the highest since the third month of full-scale war breaking out over four years ago

In the Afar region, Hayat*, a mother of two, has embraced the Emergent Literacy and Math (ELM) at Home initiative to transform her household into a vibrant learning environment. Following regular visits from teachers and participating in school-based parental meetings, Hayat* began creating teaching materials from available home resources to teach her son, Ali*, letters, colors, and numbers through play. This home-based intervention has led to a remarkable transformation in Ali’s* confidence and academic skills; he is now able to identify the English alphabet, handle a pencil to write letters, and read words and phrases—changes so visible that neighbors now remark that Hayat’s* house "looks like a school."

In the Afar region, Senait*, a mother of four, is witnessing a major shift in how her youngest daughter, Helen*, prepares for school. Unlike her older siblings who started primary school without any preparation, Helen* is supported by the Emergent Literacy and Math (ELM) at Home initiative. Through monthly teacher visits and school-based parental meetings, Senait* has learned to use local materials like cardboard to teach Helen* colours, letters, and numbers so she is well-prepared to start school. This "play-based" approach has not only improved Helen’s* literacy but has significantly boosted her confidence and communication skills.

In a pastoralist community in the Afar Region, five-year-old Kedija* is experiencing a different educational start than her older siblings. Through the LEGO Foundation-funded Childhood Development Activity (CDA), Kedija’s* parents, Halima* and Kemal*, participated in house-to-house awareness sessions and monthly parental group dialogues These sessions taught them how to transform their home into a learning environment using locally available materials like sand, sticks, and mud. As a result, Kedija* has developed strong numeracy and literacy skills, improved her social interactions, and now dreams of becoming a doctor.

Four Palestinian children have reportedly been killed and several injured by Israeli forces over the past six days, including a 10 year old in a tent in Gaza today, said Save the Children. The child rights organisation called once again for urgent international intervention.

Children are calling on world leaders to ensure they are at the centre of Ukraine’s reconstruction as governments and donors meet in Poland this week to mobilise investment for Ukraine after four years of full-scale war, said Save the Children.

At least five children have been killed and seven more children injured by an unexploded ordnance (UXO) that detonated next to them in southern Yemen in the deadliest incident for children so far this year, Save the Children said

Twelve-year-old Beaullar from Chipinge has big dreams for the future. When she grows up, she wants to become a weather reporter, sharing vital information that helps communities prepare for changing weather patterns and stay safe during disasters. She is already putting that dream into practice as a member of the Disaster Risk Reduction Club at her school.

In South Sudan, some children know the price of a sack of charcoal before they know the periodic table. Some can negotiate with customers before they can confidently read a textbook. Some learn how to survive before they are given the chance to discover what they might become.We often call this child labour.I think of it differently.I think child labour is the theft of time.

With a population of about 170 million, Bangladesh faces serious challenges in protecting its children, who make up roughly 40–45% of the population. Despite ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child and enacting the Children’s Act 2013, children remain highly vulnerable. The 2025 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) shows that 86% of children aged 1–14 have experienced violent discipline in the past month. Child marriage is also widespread: 47% of women aged 20–24 married before 18, and 13% before 15, while overall 56% of women aged 18–49 was married before turning 18.

One daily truth we ignore is we treat the environment like WiFi. We only notice it when the network is slow or when it’s gone. But unlike WiFi, we can’t just reset the planet and try again.

After the 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye, Nazih* and his family moved between temporary settlements while facing ongoing barriers to education. Three years after the earthquakes, during their transition from temporary shelter to urban life, we supported the family in re-establishing a stable and safe living environment with the support of the European Union. Through comprehensive financial, educational, and psychosocial support, alongside child protection services, the children have successfully continued their schooling and are looking ahead with renewed confidence.

PRESS RELEASEFor Immediate ReleaseEuropean Union Provides Additional €3 Million to Strengthen Education Access for Refugee and Host Community Children in UgandaKampala, Uganda – May 22nd, 2026As Europe Day 2026 was celebrated on Saturday, 9 May 2026, and as the European Union marks 50 years of partnership with Uganda since the establishment of the EU Delegation in Kampala in 1976, the European Union, through its humanitarian funding, has provided an additional €3 million to the Building Resilient Inclusive Systems for Locally Led Education and Protection (RISE) Project in Uganda. This additional funding, allocated through the Humanitarian Implementation Plan (HIP) 2026, builds on the EU’s initial €5 million contribution in 2025 and further strengthens efforts to ensure that refugee and Ugandan children affected by displacement can access safe, inclusive, and quality education. The additional funding is accompanied by a project time extension from February 2027 to April 2027, enabling partners to consolidate gains and sustain impact.

Creating meaningful and lasting change for children requires more than policies and programmes. It requires strong partnerships, community leadership, and a genuine commitment to listening to children themselves. These themes stood at the center of the recent visit of Ahmad Alhendawi, Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe (MENAEE) at Save the Children International, to Kosovo, where discussions and field visits highlighted both the progress achieved and the continued need for collective action to protect and advance children’s rights.

Seven-month-old Muskan* from northern Afghanistan received timely treatment for severe acute malnutrition thanks to an IHA MAPLE-funded Save the Children health facility, leading to significant improvement in her health as she continues her recovery.

Save the Children, in partnership with Hewad Vocational and Social Organization (HVSO) distributed school kits to 4,128 students in Kabul Province, helping reduce barriers to education and support continued learning in hub schools.

In a remote village in northern Afghanistan affected by explosive remnants of war, Save the Children, with support from the Security and Rule of Law (NL–SROL) programme, provided mine risk awareness training to children and communities.

Through targeted support to 196 households, Save the Children, with funding from SOS Children on the Move, helped children leave hazardous work, return to learning, and begin building safer and more hopeful futures.

a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } To support children accompanying their families to health facilities, Save the Children established a Mini Child‑Friendly Space (Mini CFS) in the Therapeutic Feeding Unit in Jawzjan, with support from Save the Children Italy.

Through the project “Empowering Persons with Disabilities, with a Special Focus on Children with Disabilities”, Save the Children supported families to turn skills into sustainable livelihoods.

Women in a community in southern Afghanistan now have access to safer, free, and more dignified maternal healthcare through the rehabilitation of a clinic delivery room supported by the Integrated Health Assistance, Maternal and Perinatal Life-Saving Emergencies (IHA MAPLE) project.

In December 2025, Aluel* walked into a market in Sudan looking for food to bring home to her six children since she was a single parent unfortunately, she never made it back.Grabbed by force, loaded into a vehicle, and taken against her will, Aluel disappeared leaving behind four boys and two daughters, the oldest just 15, the youngest only 4 years old.For three months, she had no way to reach them. No phone call. No word. Nothing. Hopeless"For 3 months, without seeing my children, I wanted to kill myself. I wanted to commit suicide. I moved like a mad woman " She narrated

At just 10 months old, Abraham* arrived at the clinic barely holding on, weak, underweight, and struggling to breathe after days of illness that turned into pneumonia.

Save the Children Türkiye strengthens children’s psychosocial well-being through a child-centred anti-bullying campaign featuring a fairytale written by earthquake affected children in Hatay and adapted into a 2D animated film. The campaign was supported by Save the Children US.

Eight-year-old Ali* and his family were forced to flee their home due to a prolonged drought and conflict. In his new environment, he lost his daily rhythm when he could no longer go to school. The child-friendly space brought security, friends and joy into his life that had long since disappeared.

Raja’s story highlights how timely support can transform the lives of vulnerable girls facing child marriage, early pregnancy, and gender-based violence in Mangalla. Forced out of school at 15, she regained hope after receiving psychosocial care, family counselling, and coordinated health support, enabling her to safely deliver her baby and return to education.

Lead Writer - Ibrahim Lawan

Save the Children expresses deep alarm over the rapidly escalating and increasingly brutal violence against children in Zimbabwe. Recently, social media revealed a shocking rise in cases of children being sexually violated, beaten to death, burned, abducted or kidnapped thereby going missing, often at the hands of caregivers, relatives, community figures, or trusted adults.