124 million children and young adolescents do not have access to completing quality education. These children are between ages 6 and 15 and either did not start school or dropped out.

The majority of these children live in developing countries with high levels of conflict and poverty.

Sadly, this number increased by 2 million children in the last three years.

Where do children need access to education the most?

30 million out-of school children live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

36 percent of children who were not able to complete an education live in areas with rife with conflict, or war. Learning and staying in school in conflicted affected countries is an immense challenge. How do you go to school when buildings do not exist, clean water and sanitation is lacking, and conflict surrounds your life? It’s not easy, but it is necessary.

Conflicted regions are where children need access to education the most. Any way children in areas of civil war can have structure and normality in their life while living in conflict will promote peace and help future generations join the fight to end poverty.

Tonight, Bono is here to introduce Malala and five strong, smart girls to talk about the importance of education.

And Malala is launching a call for all the world’s children to receive 12 years of free quality education.

Malala Yousafzai is a champion of education rights for girls and children around the world. Not only does her own humanitarian work and speeches shine as hope for quality education to be provided to all, but she is incredibly persistent with her actions.

After being shot by the Taliban in 2012, Malala persisted in her global ventures to fight for the right to free quality education for all.

In 2014, she was the youngest person ever awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian efforts on the rights for all girls and children to have an education, and promote peace by ending injustice for children.

Malala more than understands the necessity of providing education to all through the adversity she faced.

Why does education need to be free for 12 years?

“Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages,” according to the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

Malala and world leaders call for 12 years of education for all children because these are fundamental stages. The last years of education are the most formative and incredibly important for disadvantaged children to receive a quality education.

Education is more than a human right, it leads to higher incomes, democracy, stronger human rights for women and minorities, and less conflict.

Join Malala, Amina, Salam, Shazia, and Kainat in asking for 12 years of quality education for all children.

Go to TAKE ACTION NOW and support quality education for all children to support the Global Goals.