Theirworld

#EducationCountdown kicks off around the world

Pictured: Sesame Street’s Count von Count takes over the Twitter page of Theirworld’s President, Sarah Brown

This week, Theirworld’s flagship education platform A World at School launched the start of its 500 day #EducationCountdown with a series of exciting events reaching a worldwide audience.

With just 500 days left before the deadline set by world leaders in the year 2000 to ensure every child would be in school and learning, 58 million children are still out of school. The #EducationCountdown brings together NGOs, civil society, teachers, youth, faith-based organisations and the business community in a global movement to marshal the political will and financing needed to get this number down to zero.

  • The 500 days of action were kicked off by a Thunderclap – a joint message of support from people around the world saying ‘Count me in’ via social media, reaching almost 8 million people.
  • A World at School announced the support of one hundred key partner organisations.
  • Media partner the Discovery Learning Alliance released two PSAs in support of the campaign which will be broadcast on television both in the USA and internationally.
  • Co-founder of A World at School and President of Theirworld Sarah Brown was one of several participants in a Google Hangout on the power of educating a girl.
  • A World at School’s Youth Coordinator Chernor Bah introduced an event marking the countdown at the United Nations in New York with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and education advocate Malala Yousafzai.
  • Last but not least, Sarah Brown’s Twitter was taken over by the ultimate education enthusiast, Sesame Street’s Count von Count (pictured).

Sherrie Westin, Executive Vice President of the Sesame Workshop said: “For 45 years, Sesame Workshop has been helping children around the world grow smarter, stronger and kinder. Both organisations focus on providing quality education to all children and we are thrilled to have our beloved Sesame Street Muppets bring light to this important campaign.”

During the 500-day campaign, A World at School will focus on five key barriers that keep children excluded from school – providing education in war-torn areas, protecting girls from child marriage, making sure children are at school and not at work, ending discrimination against girls and ensuring enough teachers are trained.

To find about more about the #EducationCountdown and sign up to receive updates, click here.