© European Union, 2023 (photographer: Lisa Hastert)
Every child has the right to an education. But in the Asia-Pacific region, many children who should be in school are still not. The reasons are manifold and complex, ranging from poverty and the lack of schools to conflict and natural hazards.
The European Union works closely with humanitarian partners across Asia and the Pacific to ensure they have access to quality education – even in emergency settings. Explore some of our initiatives to help children learn in the region through striking images.
The Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh are home to more than 400,000 school-aged children, half of whom are girls. Since November 2021, UNICEF is piloting a project to offer them education based on the Myanmar curriculum.
© UNICEF, 2023
Security is however a growing concern in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, home to the world’s largest refugee camp. Like many other girls, Umme Kulsum, a 12-year-old Rohingya refugee, dropped out of school because the walk there became too dangerous for her.
© European Union, 2023 (photographer: Lisa Hastert)
In Afghanistan, around 8 million children & adolescents need educational assistance, including more than 1.4 million girls affected by the 2021 ban on female secondary education. The EU will support community-based education programmes with €14.5 million.
© Save the Children, 2023
Fighting has now spread to almost all parts of Myanmar, where 3.7 million children are currently out of school, as schools are closed or inaccessible. The EU has made available €2 million in 2024 to support their access to education.
© European Union (photographer: Pierre Prakash)
In Pakistan, 22.8 million children aged 5-16 are not attending school, the world’s second-highest number. At this EU-funded non-formal education centre, kids can learn, play with their friends, and find a sense of safety and normality.
© European Union, 2023 (photographer: Peter Biro)
Disasters are among the key factors hampering access to education. The 2022 floods in Pakistan, for example, damaged over 700 schools in the Balochistan province. The EU supports UNICEF’s temporary learning centres where schools are not yet rebuilt.
© UNICEF, 2023
In Mindanao, Philippines, many children don’t go to school due to the ongoing conflict and lack of resources. EU-funded projects offer safe learning opportunities and support them with learning materials to help them continue their education.
© Save the Children, 2023
