9 March 2023
Meeting was part of the ‘Send my Friend to School’ campaign.
Children from some of Chelmsford Diocese’s church schools came together recently to ask the UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, to facilitate more support for the education of their peers in countries affected by armed conflicts, climate-induced disasters, and other emergencies, in an initiative organised by Send my Friend to School.
The meeting was held in the Colne Engaine C of E primary school in James Cleverly’s constituency, Braintree. Children from Colne Engaine, St Andrew’s Bulmer, St Giles Gt Maplestead and Wethersfield C of E primary schools worked together to ask for the UK to pledge £170 million towards the improvement of conditions of education for millions of children around the world.
This pledge would directly provide 2.6 million children in an emergency or protracted crisis with quality education, 60% of whom would be girls.
The children gave a powerful presentation, setting out their request and sharing reasons why education is so important. They had written their 222 dreams for their 222 million peers on postcards, which they handed to Mr Cleverly during the meeting.
One of the participating pupils, Jenson, said:
We think every child has the right to have an education. Reasons that stop children from going to school include natural disasters and disease, war and famine and all are not chosen by the children.”
Fellow pupils, Herbert and Grace, added:
We have been thinking about children that cannot go to school and get an education. They might not be able to learn to read and write, or build friendships, or work on their social skills being in school with others. When you are at school, you feel safe and happy, have a hot dinner to fill you up. But if you can’t go to school, you can’t see others or feel safe."
More information
Find out more about the 'Send my Friend to School' Campaign at sendmyfriend.org.
