Last week, as world leaders and decision‑makers gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Street Child was there working to keep global education on the agenda.

With wonderful support once again from our long-term partner Liberty Global, we took part in and co‑hosted a series of events highlighting the realities faced by millions of children around the world who remain out of school.

A standout moment at Davos was our breakfast with Liberty Global and Formula E, which featured a surprise appearance from Matt Damon, representing the organisation he founded, Water.org. Matt spoke powerfully about how access to water and access to education are the two core foundations for lifting children, especially girls, out of poverty. Pictured here with Mike Fries, Chairman & CEO of Liberty Global, Street Child’s principal corporate partner and Davos host. 

Street Child’s Co‑founder and Director of Policy and Development, Lucinda Dannatt, spoke on a Street Child-convened panel in Davos on women’s economic empowerment, hosted by World Woman Davos Agenda. Lucinda, pictured here with Elissa Miolene from Devex (moderator), Inderpreet Sawhney from Infosys and Eke Vermeer from Liberty Global, highlighted Street Child’s Family Business for Education programme, which helps caregivers, the majority of whom are women, start and scale businesses to earn income and cover the cost of their children’s education.

While in Davos, CEO and Founder Tom Dannatt spoke to LBC News and, upon his return, gave an extended interview to BBC Radio 5 Live, discussing what charities like Street Child really get up to at Davos and the impact of conflict and climate crises on children’s education, including in Ukraine.

Back in the UK, Street Child joined partners and young people in Parliament to mark 25 years of Send My Friend to School, part of the Global Campaign for Education. Street Child is proud to be part of this coalition, standing alongside committed partners, such as Save the Children and Plan International, advocating for every child’s right to education. With over 100 people in the room, the event sent a strong signal of public support to the MPs and Peers in attendance for continued UK leadership on global education. Pictured here is Bambos Charalambous MP, who chaired the event, with three campaign champions, Davi, Bella and Lana. 

In what is sure to be one of Street Child’s most exciting-ever events - our Education Interrupted appeal concludes with an unforgettable finale: International Women’s Day Live at the iconic O2, and there’s still time to secure your place. Tickets from £125, tables from £1,250 - please bring friends, join us and show your support on what we know will be a brilliant evening!

📍 Indigo at The O2
📅 Wednesday, 11 March 2026

Join us for a standout evening at one of London’s most recognisable venues, featuring live music and powerful storytelling, all in support of girls’ education in some of the world’s most underserved communities.

You can book individual tickets or full tables, and every pound raised on the night will be matched — doubling your impact for girls who need it most.

Across Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, over 76,000 children are now in school who weren’t three years ago. Through our partnership with Education Above All’s Educate A Child programme, and support from the Qatar Fund for Development, the Education for Every Child Today (EFECT) project has already reached 78% of our goal to support 96,000 children with access to quality primary education.  

EFECT focuses not only on helping children enrol in school but also on making sure they stay there. The programme brings together catch‑up classes in what we call 'Temporary Learning Centres,' new and improved classrooms, teacher training, and direct support for caregivers to strengthen family income. All of this helps remove the practical and economic pressures that often push children out of the classroom, especially in communities affected by conflict or displacement.

One of the most encouraging signs of impact is the retention rate. 97% of children who enrolled in the programme’s first two years have remained in school. It’s a remarkable indicator of how effective it is to tackle the root causes which prevent children from education. 

As the programme enters its final year in 2026, this progress comes at a sobering moment. Global education funding is falling fast, even as needs continue to rise. EFECT shows what sustained investment in education can achieve, and the kind of life‑changing work that is at risk as aid cuts deepen.

If you want to help Street Child keep children learning in the toughest contexts, donations to our matched Education Interrupted appeal will go twice as far.