The best-selling artist who brought us “Work,” “Umbrella,” and “Pon De Replay” again reminded us why she was named Harvard University’s “Humanitarian of the Year” by the Harvard Foundation earlier this year.
In February, Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty went on an educational trip throughout Malawi to meet with students, teachers, and government officials alongside Global Citizen founder and CEO Hugh Evans and GPE Chairwoman Julia Gillard to understand the particular issues facing the country’s education system.
Take Action: Tell World Leaders to Support Global Education
The newest Global Ambassador for the Global Partnership for Education, Rihanna decided to take action shortly after she learned that 17 million school-aged children today are displaced and face uncertain educational futures.
According to the GPE, these children are more than twice as likely to be out of school. If the enrollment rate for secondary schooling increases by 10% higher than the average, the risk of war and conflict is reduced by 3%.
Read More: Rihanna Saves Students From Debt Through New Global Scholarship Program
And Rihanna is working to increase that enrollment rate.
Through her organization, the Clara Lionel Foundation, she is focusing on improving education, health, arts and culture worldwide. Her foundation provides micro-loans to schools in her native Barbados.
Read More: Global Citizen Festival 2016: Rihanna Isn’t Just a Superstar — She’s a Super Giver as Well
Last year, she helped convince world leaders like Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen, and French President Francois Hollande to commit more funds in support of quality education for children in emergencies.
In honor of her efforts, here are seven times Rihanna used to her voice to speak for the millions of children currently out of school.