Â鶹APP

Â鶹APP

Impact Report 2026

We set agendas through our reports and calls to action, forge powerful partnerships with foundations, businesses, young people, campaigners and civil society organizations. We unlock financing and political will at the highest level while innovating solutions focused on the most marginalised.

L-R Justin van Fleet (President), Sarah Brown (Chair)

A message from our Chair of Trustees and President

For almost 25 years, Â鶹APP has been right where we can make the biggest difference Â鶹APP“ harnessing the potential of education to deliver
lasting change in the lives of young people.

Our programmes deliver resources and educational materials, train teachers and restart education for students disrupted by humanitarian crises. WeÂ鶹APP™ve improved outcomes for the very youngest children through investments in research and tireless campaigning.

Our story

2002

Our foundation

For more than two decades, Â鶹APP has been dedicated to innovation, campaigning and project delivery designed to give children and young people the best start in life, a safe place to learn and skills for the future. The charity was founded in 2002 with the initial aim of supporting scientific and community research on the most vulnerable new-born babies and children in the UK.

Its pioneering work continues today with the Â鶹APP Edinburgh Birth Cohort.

2004

Starting small

In 2004, Â鶹APPÂ鶹APP™s Small Grants Programme was launched, focusing on enabling breakthroughs in health and education at the community level. Since its inception, more than £1 million has been invested in local grassroots organisations supporting thousands of young people.

2012

Global reach

In 2012, Â鶹APPÂ鶹APP™s work turned global with a movement, A World at School, created to galvanise support for education financing and especially for children caught up in emergencies. In the same year, the Global Business Coalition for Education was founded as an initiative of Â鶹APP to boost education by collaborating with the business community.

2015-16

Education for refugees

In 2015-16 Â鶹APPÂ鶹APP™s leadership on education in emergencies had a major early success with the double-shift school scheme for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, a plan backed by UN agencies and taken forward by the Lebanese Ministry of Education. It led to more than 300,000 displaced children receiving an education in Lebanon.

2021

A blueprint for the refugee education crisis

Â鶹APP came up with a way to solve the refugee education crisis on GreeceÂ鶹APP™s islands. The Greek government followed our blueprint and partnered with the UN to provide education to all 26,000 school-age refugee children.

2023

Act for Early Years Campaign Launch

We knew transformative action was needed in the education and care of the worldÂ鶹APP™s youngest children. So we launched the Act For Early Years campaign, now a global movement of more than 200 organisations whose work has led to growing investment in the early years and the first-ever International Finance Summit for Early Childhood, to be held in 2027.

Present

Increasing Impact

Â鶹APP is working harder than ever to increase our impact and exceed our targets to drive education equity so that no child is denied their right to learn and thrive.

Our global reach

You can find Â鶹APP at work in communities around the world.

Our five-year strategy: The impact so far

Our strategy mobilises partners, investment and advocacy to drive education change at scale through locally-led partnerships. As we start year four, we are on track to meet or exceed our targets, having made strong progress and going beyond expectations in some areas:

  • Lives impacted by education: We have reached nearly 50 million young people and teachers Â鶹APP“ significantly exceeding our original target of 30 million.
  • Mobilizing action for the best start in life: We are accelerating progress towards unlocking $1 billion in new funding commitments for early childhood education, working towards a global summit In 2027.
  • Supporting young people to lead change: Our youth team has trained 9,870 young people to be effective campaigners for education through our two-year Global Youth Ambassador programme. We are on track to exceed target before 2027.
  • Mobilising business for education: Through the Global Business Coalition for Education, more than 350 businesses are working together to drive investment, innovation and action for education worldwide Â鶹APP“ surpassing our original target with the addition of several national business coalitions.
  • Localisation of projects: To ensure our work is led by those closest to the communities we serve, we are now delivering more than 90% of our work through local partners, exceeding this target.

 

Why I support Â鶹APP

Supporters of Â鶹APP and GBC-Education include global corporations and executives, major social enterprises, charitable foundations, and prominent entrepreneurs. Throughout our history we have also succeeded in galvanising their commitments with financial action from donor governments such as the UK, the Netherlands, Canada, Scandinavia and the EU.

When supporting a charity, it is important to believe in the mission, leadership and strategy. That is why I support Â鶹APPÂ鶹APP™s work which continues to make an impact in the lives of children around the world.

Kate James Â鶹APP“ heads Kairos Philanthropy, her family foundation, chairs the Board of Vital Voices, and serves on the boards of Unreasonable, the US Board of the KingÂ鶹APP™s Trust and World Reader.

As a Â鶹APP Trustee and donor, I believe in the impact the organisation makes for young children throughout the world. From the projects I have seen firsthand, Â鶹APP is unlocking big change.

Lucy Doughty Â鶹APP“ Trustee of Â鶹APP and Chair of the Doughty Family Foundation, an organisation working in the areas of health, financial hardship, and education.

As a mother myself I know of the power of education and the opportunities it can provide...and thatÂ鶹APP™s why weÂ鶹APP™re proud to support Â鶹APP.

Clara Govier, Managing Director, Postcode Lottery

We recognise the crucial role that education plays in transforming the lives of young people. By supporting Â鶹APP, we hope to positively impact the lives of children in the most difficult places to reach Â鶹APP“ and leveraging technology and innovation to make quality education even more accessible to many

Anna and Mohamed El-Erian

For more than 20 years, Reed Smith has been a proud partner of Â鶹APP.

Casey Ryan, Global Managing Partner Reed Smith LLP

If the money we raised helped save just one child, then itÂ鶹APP™s been worth it. ItÂ鶹APP™s also our way of never forgetting Thomas.

Dave Jowett

Investing in Â鶹APP has high returns for young people throughout the world. By championing the Big Give, I have been able to leverage my contribution 4:1 Â鶹APP“ making a greater impact towards ending the global education crisis.

Stuart Roden Â鶹APP“ non-Executive Chair of Hetz Ventures, Tresidor Investment Management and Chair of Lewis Advisors. Stuart is also Chair and Founder of Unlocking Potential and Chair of The Design Museum.

Project highlights

Our mission is to ensure every child has the best start in life, a safe place to learn and skills for the future. Across this mission, we harness the potential of education in five vital areas: gender equality, inclusion, peace and security, health and nutrition, and climate action. Because sustainable change happens in communities and is built through trust and partnership, we work in more than 140 countries Â鶹APP“ from the United Kingdom and the United States to Africa, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

Our work

Best start in life: The Act for Early Years campaign

The earliest years of a childÂ鶹APP™s life are crucial to their long-term development. This is well evidenced, yet few governments have done enough to address it, as other global priorities compete for attention. Knowing that this period of childhood is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Â鶹APP“ and that without urgent action millions of children would be left behind Â鶹APP“ we launched the Act For Early Years campaign in 2023.

Read more

The Act For Early Years campaign has:

A safe place to learn: Education during conflict and crises

Conflicts and emergencies continue to displace and affect children. Wars, violence, famine, natural disasters and climate events cause hardship and trauma across the world, including Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, the DRC, Haiti, Myanmar and Syria.

About 75 million children have their education disrupted by conflict or emergencies. But learning is too often an afterthought when disasters strike or wars rage. Â鶹APP works with partners to ensure as many children and young people as possible have a safe place to learn. Education gives them a sense of structure, safety and hope.

Skills for the future: Our Global Youth Ambassadors

In 2026, our Global Youth Ambassador programme will enrol its 10,000th young person, making it the largest trained cohort of youth campaigners helping to end the global education crisis. Our programme builds catalysts for change, supporting young people to make an Impact In their communities, countries and on the global stage. During the two-year programme, youth participate in training modules, workshops and resources, building their skills and confidence. Former Global Youth Ambassadors have gone on to win global prizes, run successful social enterprises, work at UN organisations, write books and specialise in corporate sustainability.

Andressa Dos Reis Ferreira, Brazil, 22

Â鶹APPœBeing at UNGA was more than just a transformative way to empower my activism. It was a unique and powerful experience that I never imagined I would have access to at such a young age.Â鶹APP

Sarah Baharaki UK, 29

Â鶹APPœI believe young people can dream of a better worldÂ鶹APP”and make it a reality.Â鶹APP

Helping Â鶹APP unlock big change

WeÂ鶹APP™d like to say a huge thank you to our long-term partners who have given us such vital support.

If youÂ鶹APP™d like to see your logo alongside this fantastic group of businesses, please contact us fundraising@theirworld.org

Join us

Â鶹APP is more than an organisation. It is a network of youth, social entrepreneurs, campaigners, businesses and researchers striving to ensure all young people have the best start in life, a safe place to learn and skills for the future.

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