The Send My Friend to School campaign is run by the Global Campaign for Education’s UK coalition.
We are part of a huge global movement. The Global Campaign for Education was founded in 1999 and since then over 18 million people in more than 100 countries have got involved.
Below you can read highlights of events around the world during the 2007 JOIN UP campaign. Below you can read highlights of events around the world during the 2007 JOIN UP campaign.
Progress towards Education For All in 2007
The drum rolled for an exciting Action Week across Africa with children, parents and other campaigners JOINING UP in spectacular human chains in support of the right to an Education for All.
An unprecedented human chain linked the two countries Gambia and Senegal in a spectacular display of solidarity and resolve. The chain was undulating from West Africa, to Central and East Africa and to Southern Africa with a uniform call for everyone to JOIN UP for education rights.
Although gains have been made since 2000, the fact remains that Africa urgently needs more resources and political will in order to meet the EFA goals by 2015.
From Santiago to San Francisco children, parents and campaigners, took part in colourful events, street dramas, celebrity events, festivals, seminars, and massive ‘hugs’ that embraced schools and political buildings to create enormous JOIN UP human chains.
Campaigners tailored their activities – whether in the USA (one of the world’s poorest performers in giving aid to education), or some of the poorest countries in the south, civil society took on their leaders in their demands for progress towards Education Rights for All.
From Pakistan to the Philippines millions of children, and adults united in the action to JOIN UP and make human and paper chains.
Often working against the odds campaigners rallied, debated and got huge coverage in the media. Not even volatile political situations in Bangladesh, elections in the Philippines and a tsunami in the Solomon Islands deterred education campaigners, who came out in their masses to rally for Education Rights.
Young campaigners in Europe got the JOIN UP chain around the world going in January – as they met in the European Parliament to hold hands with each other and launch the chain in front of their MEPs.
Colourful campaign events continued on throughout the year from Skopje to Stockholm as campaigners JOINED UP in person and on line. Some schools went further and JOINED UP with schools in Africa.
A giant JOIN UP inflatable globe was pushed through the Netherlands and along a JOIN UP chain in Berlin ahead of the G8, cut-out chains were delivered to national leaders and MPs attended chain events around the continent.
The Global Campaign for Education is continuing to make efforts to strengthen campaigns in this region. Throughout the year there have been aid and policy announcements in the Middle East – yet in many countries Education for All still remains a challenge.
Marches, seminars, letters and JOIN UP chain events were a few of the campaign activities that were used to bring to attention the need for action to make sure everyone in the region receives a quality education.
Find out more about the global campaign at www.campaignforeducation.org
