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The is officially launched today Â鶹APP“ and more than 100 organisations have joined 500 youth leaders in over 85 countries and notable celebrities in supporting it.

World leaders made a promise in 2000 that every child would be in school and learning by 2015. But with 500 days left before the deadline, 58 million children are still out of school.

Sarah Brown, co-founder of A World at School, said: Â鶹APPœChildren and young people are demanding their education and now they are supported by over 100 organisations calling for action.

Â鶹APPœTogether we can create an unstoppable groundswell of demand Â鶹APP“ a movement to get every child in to school and learning, no matter who they are or where they are born.Â鶹APP�

Aid to support basic education has declined rapidly Â鶹APP“ by more than 10% between 2010 and 2012 Â鶹APP“ and many countries are not scaling up domestic financing fast enough.

Now hundreds of across the globe in more than 85 countries have spurred a movement Â鶹APP“ led by a World at School working alongside NGOs, civil societies, teachers, faith-based organisations and businesses Â鶹APP“ which is demanding the right to education for all children.

During the 500-day campaign, A World at School will focus on five key barriers that keep children excluded from school Â鶹APP“ 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.

You can get involved in the campaign by signing up to receive #EducationCountdown campaign updates. You can also get involved in many other ways. .

Launching #EducationCountdown on the eve of World Humanitarian Day, United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown said: Â鶹APPœToday we officially launch 500 days of action aimed at helping millions of children go to school and learn.

Â鶹APPœWe have set our initial targets and a movement is forming across the globe. Youth, faith leaders, businesses, NGOs, civil society and teachers are uniting to build pressure for change.  

Â鶹APPœThis undeniable force for action will deliver results for our children.Â鶹APP�

Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, will mark the 500-day countdown by at the United Nations in New York today.

Pop stars, film actors and politicians are also throwing their support behind the countdown.

Award-winning singer and songwriter Shakira said: Â鶹APPœWe have 500 days to make a real difference. Help us spread the word to get children out of the street and into the classroom.Â鶹APP�

Chinese pianist and UN Messenger of Peace Lang Lang said: Â鶹APPœThe key to peace and development in the world can only be achieved through education. Let us, therefore, unite all of our efforts.Â鶹APP�

Today Sesame Workshop has joined the campaign to get every child into school and learning and Count von Count has taken over for the start of the #EducationCountdown.

Sherrie Westin, Executive Vice President, Sesame Workshop said: Â鶹APPœFor 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.Â鶹APP�

The business community has also joined in the global groundswell of support led by the Chief Executives Aliko Dangote and Strive Masiyiwa are just two of the high-profile individuals supporting the campaign.

As media partners in #EducationCountdown, across DiscoveryÂ鶹APP™s networks (Discovery, Science, OWN, ID, etc.) in the United States and around the world.

The next stop for the campaign is New York City, where hundreds of young people representing all countries will descend in September to kick off the week of the UN General Assembly to demand the right to education be realised by the presidents and prime ministers attending the annual UN meeting.