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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations
#EducationNoMatterWhat
#EducationNoMatterWhat

Everyone has the right to education

Going to school is a fundamental right, but for some vulnerable children, education is a challenge. During the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of children and youngsters worldwide experienced what it means not to have access to school. They missed their friends and teachers. Their education often suffered. Once the restrictions were lifted, they were happy to return as soon as schools opened.

‘When I grow up’: a film by Claire Billet and Olivier Jobard

When Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022, classrooms fell silent. Soon, schools were destroyed by the relentless shelling. Almost a year on, classes have started again, and schools are being rebuilt with EU humanitarian support.

In ‘When I grow up’, 3 tenacious young Ukrainians resume their education despite the fighting. By giving them a voice, ‘Education, no matter what’ documents their ambitions and courage in a country devastated by war.

Ukraine is not the only country where access to quality education is disrupted, as this is the case for millions of children caught in many humanitarian crises around the world.

Marie, Hanan, and Sonia are 3 young girls from Burkina Faso, Syria, and Ukraine. They share similar stories despite living in different regions of the world.

Thanks to their inner strength and the EU's humanitarian efforts, today, they are succeeding.

Marie, Hanan, and Sonia are determined to claim their right to education, no matter what.

Discover their video stories to get to know them, their teachers, and friends.

Marie

Hanan

Sonia

Raise your hand for education!

Do you believe knowledge is power and want to support Sonia, Marie, and Hanan and their right to education?

Then post a video of yourself on social media with your hand raised.

Use the filter on your mobile to make the message even more powerful – and post it with the hashtag #EducationNoMatterWhat.

Education in emergencies - Raise your hand for education
Education, No mater what
Video competition: Education in motion

VICE and the European Union are looking for young talents and video makers-to-be! Join the competition and share your own video about #EducationNoMatterWhat

Toolkit for schools

We invite schools across Europe to join the #EducationNoMatterWhat campaign and share their thoughts on education in emergencies.

Learn more

Toolkit also available in Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, German, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian and Spanish.

About the campaign

Across the world, humanitarian crises threaten to disrupt the education of children and young people.

This is unacceptable. Education is a fundamental human right and a basic need for a better future and more fair societies. It must not be interrupted, no matter how serious the crisis.

Education is the driving force for change: it is powerful and essential. Education should always be possible, no matter what.

Discover more about what the EU is doing to support education in emergencies.

Factsheet: Education in Emergencies

Read more stories from Syria, Ukraine, and Burkina Faso

Privacy statement

For all interactions, especially when taking part in the video competition, your personal data will be protected.

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