Rihanna — a headliner of the 2016 Global Citizen Festival and long-time champion for education — has just joined a campaign to ensure that girls and boys in the world’s poorest countries can get a quality education.
Through partnership between Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation, The Global Partnership For Education and Global Citizen, she will be the voice and advocate for the 330 million children who are currently out of school.
“I feel strongly that all children everywhere should be afforded the opportunity of a quality education,” Rihanna said.
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Further expanding her superstar philanthropy efforts, Rihanna will take on a new role as GPE Global Ambassador. She will encourage world leaders and policymakers to boost their amp up support for global education along with education in emergencies through the Global Partnership for Education.
"Achieving a future free of extreme poverty starts with education," said Hugh Evans, Global Citizen founder and CEO. "In creating this partnership we bring together three complementary parties. Global Citizen will drive the advocacy and movement building efforts, Rihanna, whose reach as one of the greatest artists of our generation, will amplify this essential work, and the Global Partnership for Education will campaign governments around the world to effect real change. By coming together, our organizations will have an impact for generations to come."
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The partnership will be a multi-year campaign which will help children access education in over 60 developing countries giving priority to girls, and those affected by conflict who are truly the most vulnerable people affected by lack of access to education in the world today.
Julia Gillard, the first female prime minister of Australia and Chair of the Global Partnership For Education — the only global organization focused exclusively on improving education in the world’s poorest countries — welcomes the impact Rihanna’s influence will have on making a difference when it comes to ensuring quality education is a reality for all.
“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build the commitment of world leaders to education, and Rihanna’s voice and travels to countries where GPE is actively engaged, will be hugely influential in improving the lives of girls and boys everywhere,” said Gillard.
This is great news, after the report from UNICEF stating that there are 3.7 million refugee children from Syria alone who are out of school. And the first ever Summit For Refugees and Migrants led to minimal action.
It’s incredible to see celebrities tackle issues of global importance and use their voice to empower and educate mass audiences. Today, Rihanna takes another step even further by understanding the importance of joining together forces to create impact in the world.
“Working together, I know we can amplify our efforts and ensure that millions of children gain access to education globally," said Rihanna, echoing the profound changes that can occur when organizations, causes, and people unite.
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