History
It Began with a Commitment
The Education Partnership for Children of Conflict started in 2006 at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting. UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie and Gene Sperling, Director of the Center for Universal Education at the Council on Foreign Relations, felt compelled to do something about the millions upon millions of children falling through the cracks and not receiving education in conflict and post- conflict settings.
Their idea was not to create another organization to compete for resources, but instead to form a true partnership among existing organizations to increase the profile of education for children of conflict.
The Founding Project
The founding project was the LEGACY Initiative -- a project in West Africa that partnered Novo Foundation with the International Rescue Committee. In its first year, the LEGACY Initiative - operating in war torn Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote d'Ivoire - educated 30,000 marginalized girls and boys, trained 1,500 teachers, and improved 150 schools and 25 vocational institutions with infrastructure and materials.
The First Year
In its inaugural year, the Education Partnership sought out partners from the non-profit, corporate, and foundation world to come together around a common cause: educating children of conflict. The Partnership received seed capital from the Hewlett Foundation, Children's Investment Fund Foundation, and Unbound Philanthropy. Additional support came from the Boeing Corporation and the Jolie-Pitt Foundation.
By the 2007 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, EPCC had catalyzed a wide array of commitments supporting education for displaced Iraqi refugee children; young people affected by the Darfur genocide; girls and youth in rural Afghanistan; and other children affected by conflict across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Looking Forward
Tens of millions of children worldwide can't go to school because they are caught in the crossfire of war, are refugees or live in places healing from conflict or natural disasters. Even when they are able to go school, too often they don't have the trained teachers or basic supplies they need to succeed. These children fall through the cracks - there is not enough funding to support the programs that help them rebuild their lives.
Through the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, we identify new and innovative projects that are helping to provide education for children affected by conflict, violence, war or natural disaster. Next, we work to identify potential donors and mobilize resources for these organizations by matching organizations with funders. And this website is our way to invite everyone to join in our efforts to support education for these brave children - the future teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers and leaders.
From individuals and local school groups to corporations, we're working to create a network of support to educating children of conflict. Join us »
