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“My message to girls around the world facing education challenges would be this: “You are worth it. I know it is hard and there are a lot of challenges you are facing. But your hopes and dreams are worth fighting for. You have so much to offer the world. You and your voice and your experience matter. The world needs you to keep studying, to keep dreaming, to keep pushing for what you want to see in the world.”   -- Karina Gould, Minister of International Development

Canada recently committed $5.5 million to Education Cannot Wait (ECW) to support their response to the COVID-19 pandemic in meeting the educational needs of children and youth caught in emergencies. 

In ECW's informative interview with Karina Gould, we hear from Canada’s Minister of International Development who is a strong advocate for girls’ education.  Click here to read the full interview and get to know more about Karina Gould and why she believes that education is fundamental to achieving gender equality.

June 20^th marks World Refugee Day. For millions of women and girls among the world’s ever-growing refugee population, education remains an aspiration, not a reality.  In Africa, COVID-19 is, in fact, amplifying the struggle that children are already facing to reach a quality education.  Malala Fund research is showing that, globally, up to 10 million secondary school aged girls may never return to the classroom due to harmful gender norms, early child marriage, child labour and strains on household and government spending.

Click here to read more about the UNHCR’s (UN Refugee Agency) commitment to making education for refugee girls a priority.

In this 25-minute podcast, Africa’s and Ireland’s first female heads of state, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Mary Robinson, discuss a wide range of topics, from feminist leadership to the COVID-19 response, and progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and development in Africa.

Click here to listen.

Read about this unique MA in Education program at York University in Toronto that is celebrating the first cohort of Dadaab students to earn a York University graduate degree in Education.  We only have one question, “Where are the women?”.  Click here to find out more.

A report recently released by the Global Centre on Adaptation and the African Adaptation Initiative, and backed by 54 African leaders, identifies ways in which stimulus spending in Africa can be used to ‘build back better’ after COVID-19.  The compound crises of the pandemic and climate change require an integrated response so that recovery programs can propel Africa towards increased resilience. To learn more and to access the full report, click here. 

Launched this week, the 6 Principles for a Just Recovery are the result of discussions among civil society groups across Canada, and have been endorsed by over 200 organizations. GRAN is among them. We support a just recovery for all.  Click here to learn more.

It is encouraging to see this report about Canada's leadership on debt relief and to learn of the government's plans to respond to the UN global appeal for contributions to help fight the pandemic in the world's poorest countries.

Click here to read more.

The impact of COVID 19 on adolescent girls in Africa is likely to have devastating long term effects.  The pandemic will exacerbate the inequalities already faced by young girls.  Read the joint solidarity letter sent to the African Union to advocate for critical interventions to ensure that adolescent girls are not left behind.  Click here to read more

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the impact of ageism on the human rights of older people here at home and all around the world.  In response, GRAN has recently endorsed  a letter written by Margaret Gillis, President of the International Longevity Centre, directed to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Seniors, urging Canada to show immediate and decisive leadership in supporting a Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. The full text of Margaret’s letter is available here.