Where every child can learn and dream
Thank you Wira for opening doors to learning #ForEveryChild
As we begin a new year, I would like to extend my warmest wishes to you. This January, as the world marks the International Day of Education, we are reminded that progress for children depends on timely support. Because of you, children are growing, learning and imagining a future full of possibilities. You are a Wira untuk Kanak-kanak and children in Malaysia and across the world are moving forward because of you.
I would like to share a story from a recent school visit that shows what your support made possible, and why your continued support is needed now.
My name is Azlina Kamal, and I lead Education programmes at UNICEF Malaysia. Recently, I visited a school in Serendah, Selangor. The teachers there have been trained through our Future Skills for All (FS4A) programme to better support children with disabilities, so every child can learn with confidence and dignity.
Launched in 2020 with the Ministry of Education and our partners, FS4A helps make learning more relevant and inclusive for every child. Teachers are equipped with practical strategies, technology and creative teaching approaches, so classrooms can respond to different learning needs, including those of deaf/blind students.
Because of you, classrooms like these are turning into spaces where every child belongs.
At this school, I met Husna, fondly known as Una, a bright 12-year-old girl who is deaf. When I first saw her, she was quietly sketching scenes from her daily life and imagination.
Una was born with hearing loss and lives with her father and siblings. Without early access to sign language, school was often overwhelming. Lessons moved quickly and instructions were hard to follow. Learning, which should empower a child, too often left her feeling unseen and left behind.
Sadly, Una’s experience is still the reality for many children today.
Across Malaysia, around 4,000 deaf children in government schools face daily barriers to learning. These range from limited access to trained teachers and inclusive learning tools to stigma and gaps in digital access.
For many, opportunities to build problem-solving, digital skills and creative thinking remain out of reach.
This is why action matters now.
Because of Wira Untuk Kanak-Kanak like you, Una’s story has begun to change. 💙
Step into Una’s world. Watch how the right support is giving Una the confidence to learn, connect with others, and begin dreaming about her future.
Through FS4A, Una’s teacher, Cikgu Muhammad Amsyar, learned how to use technology in simple, creative ways to support visual learning. One of these ideas became the “Totbin”, a hands-on learning tool that helps Una “see” numbers and connect Maths with meaning.
"Una has fun using this tool. Her learning is improving quickly, and she’s excited to explore new skills, even coding."
For the first time, learning made sense.
Today, Una is more confident. She participates actively in class and is proud of what she can do.
But while Una is moving forward, many other children are still waiting.
“Now I understand numbers. When I count, I can see them.”
Since 2020, FS4A has expanded across Malaysia, supporting nearly 59,000 teachers and students with and without disabilities in 3,600 schools. Teachers now have access to more than 120 practical strategies that make learning more engaging and inclusive.
Yet demand continues to outpace resources.
Globally, there are an estimated 240 million children with disabilities. Like Una, they need access to quality education to develop their skills and realize their full potential. Your support today can help make this possible.
In 2025 alone, 6.9 million children globally, including children with disabilities, accessed education through UNICEF’s support. In 2026, we aim to reach 22.9 million children, including those affected by poverty, displacement, conflict and disability are not left behind.
In Malaysia, RM1.38 million is needed to strengthen quality and inclusive education so that children like Una can learn in safe, inclusive classrooms that recognize her potential. Without timely support, children risk falling further behind, not because they cannot learn, but because learning environments are not yet ready for them.
Your gift today can help train more teachers, adapt more learning materials and ensure classrooms are safe, supportive spaces where children like Una can keep moving forward.
This is a moment where your action can make a real difference.
Will you take action now and continue walking this journey with us?
On behalf of children who hope, who dream, and who are eager to learn, I thank you for being a Wira untuk Kanak-kanak.
for every child, quality education 💙
With heartfelt gratitude,
Azlina Kamal
Education Specialist and Lead
P/S: Your donation today will help UNICEF deliver quality education in classrooms, communities and crisis settings where children need it most. Please give now to protect every child’s right to learn.
Education: A Lifeline in Emergencies
When crisis hits, school becomes more than a place to learn. It becomes a sanctuary of safety and a lifeline of hope for children in emergencies.
Thanks to your generosity as a Wira Untuk Kanak-kanak, children affected by conflict, displacement and disasters can continue learning, even in the most uncertain times. You help restore stability when everything else feels fragile.
But today, more families are being displaced. More schools are being disrupted. And more children are at risk of losing their right to learn.
With the support of donors like you, 6.9 million children accessed formal education through UNICEF, even in the toughest places.
Across crisis and refugee settings, your generosity helped children to:
- return to learning after disruption
- find safety and learn in child-friendly learning spaces
- stay connected to health, nutrition and protection services
For many children, this was not just about education.
It was about feeling safe again, being seen and being hopeful.
The needs are growing. In 2026, UNICEF aims to help 22.9 million children access education, even in emergencies.
With your continued support, we will focus on:
- keeping schools open in conflict and disaster-affected areas
- reaching refugee and internally displaced children
- helping girls stay in school during crisis
- strengthening education systems so communities can recover and rebuild
Because when education continues, hope continues. 💙
And because of you, children are finding their way back to learning – in safe spaces, with caring support, and in the simple joy of being able to learn again.
Lang Son, Viet Nam, January 2026. After months of storms and floods disrupted schooling, UNICEF delivered learning kits to help students return to class. Here, a UNICEF education officer shares a joyful moment with a first-grade student – a reminder that learning can resume, even after crisis.
Kunar Province, Afghanistan, 2025. After an earthquake forced his family from their home, nine-year-old Abdullah was unable to continue school and felt deeply discouraged. Today, he is smiling again as he returns to learning at a temporary classroom supported by UNICEF and partners.
Deir al-Balah, Gaza, October 2025. As conflict continues to disrupt daily life, girls are happy to attend a UNICEF-supported learning centre . Temporary classrooms offer a safe place to learn, play and reconnect with friends.
Sudan, November 2025. At a transit school for boys, students receive new school bags and learning kits as schools reopen after months of disruption. With support from UNICEF and partners, thousands of children are returning to safe classrooms and are continuing their education with renewed hope.
Why your support matters now
In 2026, millions of children are at risk of losing their chance at an education.
UNICEF is working tirelessly to ensure children in the hardest places can keep learning, even in emergencies. But we cannot do this alone.
Every contribution makes a real difference. Your gift today helps restore learning, stability and hope to a child when they need it most.
Children cannot wait. Every hour without school is an hour of lost opportunity.
Will you stand with them and be their Wira Untuk Kanak-kanak today?
