The event aims to provide a venue for youth to share with global leaders, UN agencies and grassroots civil society organizations their learning experiences and challenges during school closure and to propose what needs to be done to ensure inclusive, equitable and accessible education is put forefront of the comprehensive recovery process. The event will invite youth from all around the world, particularly those from the most marginalized and vulnerable communities with pre-existing challenges due to gender inequality, discrimination against people with disabilities, and socio-economic status such as refugees and IDPs.

We would like to invite you to join us in a virtual global event on the
3rd International Day of Education

Education, a key to post COVID-19 pandemic recovery:
How can we prevent a generational catastrophe?

#UniteToProtect and #BuildBackEducation

Sunday, 24 January 2021 From 8:00am to 9:30am ET (4:00 pm Doha time)
Link to view: https://youtu.be/pSMPsMwAprg

Programme

Moderated by Ms. Nelufar Hedayat, Doha Debate Correspondent 
On-site moderator Ms. Anoud Al Kuwari, EAA Youth Advocate 

Opening Segment

• Special opening remark by Mohamed Munir, Student at the Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs
• ‘Unrelinquished Commitment to Education’
• A special message from Shakira Mebarak, Singer, Songwriter and Founder of The Barefoot Foundation
• ‘Connecting the world’ with a special message from youth around the world and Ms. Karen Bryson, MBE, British Actor and advocate for the rights of women and children

Special Keynote Speech

Her Excellency Lolwah R M Al-Khater, Assistant Foreign Minister & Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar

Main Session

Discussion topics: How can we #BuildBackEducation stronger together?

1. Ensuring quality, inclusive, accessible and equitable education for all
2. Supporting the safe reopening of schools and resuming delivery of vital services such as health and nutrition
3. Protecting and bolstering education budgets, promoting further investment in education and targeting public spending
4. Strengthening and supporting the education workforce, including teachers and school personnel
5. Utilising technology where it is proven to be effective, while ensuring it is not exacerbating marginalisation and pre-existing inequality

Panelists

• Ms. Maria Victoria Angulo Gonzalez, Minister of National Education of Colombia
• Dr. Diosdado M. San Antonio, Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction at the Department of Education of the Philippines
• Mr. Elyas Abdi Jillaow, DIrector General, Minister of Education, Kenya
• Ms. Hana Elshehaby EAA Youth Advocate
• Mr. Shawgi Ahmed, EAA Youth Advocate
• Mr. Robert Jenkins, Associate Director for Education, UNICEF
• Dr. Suzanne Grant Lewis, Director, UNESCO IIEP
• Dr. Mamadou Dian Balde, Deputy Director, Division of Resilience and Solutions, UNHCR
• Ms. Marie-Ange Saraka-Yao, Managing Director, Resource Mobilisation, Private Sector Partnerships & Innovative Finance Department, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
• Mr. Fazle Rabbani, GPE Senior Country lead for Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Eritrea and Lesotho, Global Partnership for Education
• Dr. Rukmini Banerji, CEO, Pratham
• Ms. Mercy Musomi, Executive Director, Girl Child Network Kenya
• Dr. Leon Botstein, President of Bard College
• Dr. Bassam Al Saqqa, Dean Islamic University of Gaza
• Mr. Abduallah AbuNamous, EAA Youth
• Mr. Hüseyin Oruç, IHH Representative
• Ms. Ala’a Shawwaf, Istanbul University student

Closing Remark

Mr. Fahad Al Sulaiti, CEO, Education Above All Foundation

Special Closing Segment

Poetry recitation by Emi Mahmoud, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador

#BuildBackEducation Art Exhibition

For more information on our data sources: SaveOurFuture White Paper and UN Policy Brief: Education during COVID-19 and beyond.