Hope in a Hard Moment

The world feels especially heavy right now. The recent attack on a girls’ school in Iran, which took the lives of so many children, is a heartbreaking reminder of how fragile the right to education can be. As we shared in our statement, schools must always be safe places for learning, and the international community must do more to protect children in times of conflict. 

These heartbreaking events highlight the urgent need for strong global leadership in education and child protection. Young people everywhere are confronting escalating dangers, from violence to displacement, and they deserve champions who refuse to look away.

Even in this difficult moment, we continue to find hope. We were honored to join the Child Partnership at a recent event on Capitol Hill that showed what is possible when young people, community leaders, and partners come together with a shared commitment to safety, dignity, and opportunity for every child. These moments remind us that progress is still within reach when we work together. 

Thank you for standing with us and for continuing to push for a world where every child can learn and thrive. 

With gratitude,

Giulia McPherson
Executive Director

The GCE Global Secretariat will host its annual Global Action Week for Education (GAWE) from April 20–25, a coordinated global moment to spotlight key priorities within the Education for All agenda. This year’s theme focuses on education financing and calls on governments and the international community to “Hold the Flame High” for the right to education. 

The Secretariat has released campaign materials and will host an online Learning Workshop on Education Financing on April 9 that will explore key trends in domestic and international education financing, share lessons from past campaigns and replenishment processes, and introduce the GAWE 2026 campaign pack, including advocacy priorities and communication tools to support coordinated national and regional actions.

House Dear Colleague Letter Closes with Strong Bipartisan Support 

We’re thrilled to share that the FY27 House Dear Colleague letter in support of funding for international basic education programs closed with an impressive 110 representatives signing on — including Democrats and Republicans. This strong bipartisan showing reflects growing recognition of the importance of U.S. leadership in global education. A huge thank‑you to everyone who helped drive this effort forward. 

The final letter calls for $970 million for FY27, including $152 million dedicated to multilateral partnerships, a level that would restore topline basic education funding to FY23 levels. GCE‑US has sent thank‑you messages to all participating offices, and work is now underway in the Senate to launch the FY27 Dear Colleague on that side of the Capitol.  

Recruitment Update: 2026 GCE-US Youth Fellowship Program 

The GCE-US Youth Engagement Committee has been busy reviewing applications for the 2026 GCE-US Youth Fellowship, all exceptional candidates. Finalists have been notified and we look forward to announcing our 2026 cohort next week! 

This year’s selected Youth Fellows will join a program focused on advocacy, education policy, and leadership development. The fellowship begins with a series of expert led trainings and continues through Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, followed by community action projects that run through November 2026. 

Books Unbound

Books Unbound is transforming education for refugees and marginalized communities through the power of culturally relevant, picture-based learning. Their team “cartoonizes” real communities, creating vibrant picture dictionaries, coloring books, health guides, and teaching tools that reflect learners’ own cultures, languages, and daily experiences. 

Founded on the belief that representation fuels confidence and connection, Books Unbound partners with Afghan, Rohingya, Syrian, Ukrainian, and Bangla communities around the world to preserve cultural identity while expanding access to informal education. Their resources support both literate and nonliterate learners, making education more inclusive, trauma sensitive, and empowering. 

Through custom curriculum design, teacher training, and community driven outreach, Books Unbound continues to innovate one cartoonized story at a time. We are proud to spotlight their inspiring work and their commitment to ensuring every learner feels seen, valued, and represented. 

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