The Global Action Week serves to mobilize the public in support of international promises to provide free, compulsory public basic education for all people. It commemorates the anniversary of the Dakar conference, where 164 countries committed themselves to these promises, known as the Education for All (EFA) goals.

During Global Action Week Canadian children are linked to a world-wide movement through learning and activities which allow them to share and exchange information and experiences. Global Action Week grows every year, with millions of participants in 120 countries participating during 2006. The 2008 Global Action Week campaign is Quality Education to End Exclusion! Activities will culminate during Global Action Week April 21-27th.

Global Action Week is a truly global activity as teachers, children, parents, trade unions, non-governmental organizations, and UN agencies from all over the world join in activities voicing their concern about the right of all to be educated. Member coalitions of the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) in over 150 countries, including Canada, seek to mobilize people to learn about the issues and make sure our governments continue to honour pledges made to fund efforts to improve educational opportunities for children for disadvantaged children all over the world.

Each year there is a theme. This year it is "Quality Education to End Exclusion!" Along with a theme there is an action taken by member coalitions throughout the world that joins the movement together. By encouraging children to participate in Global Action Week, we are telling Canadian children that they have a voice that is important to the larger dialogue about children's rights. Students will be linked in a national form of action, but more importantly, they will be a part of a larger international movement of children which connects youth from developed and developing countries in a form of solidarity. Most importantly, we will be teaching our children that they can and should work to make a difference.