What is Global Action Week?

Each year the Global Campaign for Education holds a Global Action Week to raise awareness about the need for universal primary education of quality and the necessary actions of both rich and poor countries to achieve this objective. During Global Action Week children are linked to a world-wide movement through learning and activities which allow them to share and exchange information and experiences. Last year’s campaign, ‘Send My Friend to School’ was a tremendous and inspirational success. Five million children and youth around the world created 3.5 million paper “friends” and met with Prime Ministers, Presidents and parliamentarians in 100 countries. The theme for 2006 is ‘Every Child Needs a Teacher’ – a particularly pressing issue given that the UN estimates that there is a shortage of 15 million teachers worldwide.