An entire generation has seen its education interrupted. At the height of nation-wide lockdowns in April, approximately 91 per cent of the world's students in more than 194 countries were out of school. This has caused immeasurable disruption to the lives, learning and wellbeing of children around the world.   UNICEF is working together with…, Bhutan, Girls students standing in their classroom Classes are buzzing at Samtengang Central School in Wangdue, Bhutan, which welcomed its 134 students on 1 July when schools across the country reopened for Grades 9 and 11. UNICEF has been working closely with the Ministry of Education to develop national guidelines and checklists for reopening schools…, China, School children wearing masks get their temperatures checked and hands sanitized by teachers in a school Children get their temperature checked and use hand sanitizer before entering their kindergarten, which reopened on 2 June in Chongqing, China. To keep children healthy and safe, staff and teachers have implemented a series of measures,…, Côte d’Ivoire, Students wearing face masks attend class in a school Children attend classes at the primary school of San-Pedro, in the South West of Côte d'Ivoire. Due to COVID-19, schools were closed for several weeks. On 18 May, classes resumed with precautionary measures: children wearing masks, washing their hands regularly and maintaining physical distance…, Egypt, A boy sits at his desk in school and gets his hands sanitized A student gets his hands disinfected at a high school in Minia governorate in Egypt. UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Education with the development of guidelines for the safe reopening of schools. We have also supported disinfection efforts in 360 schools in the Minia and Fayoum…, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Students entering the gates of their school On 18 May, Lycée de Vientiane, a public school in Vientiane, Lao PDR’s capital, welcomed back over 900 of its students. After a two-month-long school closure in Lao PDR and with no new cases reported in over a month, the Ministry of Education issued Safe Schools guidance for schools to reopen in phases.…, Viet Nam, Children lined up for temperature checks as they enter their school Teachers and students take preventative measures on the first day of school in Lao Cai, Viet Nam on 11 May. These measures are being called 'new habits' to make schools safer for all during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a prolonged break since the Lunar New Year festival in…

An initiative from UNICEF and ITU to bridge the digital divide for millions of schoolchildren across the world

Rohingya refugees are learning more about a range of issues, including COVID-19

With children spending more time at home due to COVID-19-related school closures, regular exercise is more important than ever

While COVID-19 has received wide coverage, the voices and stories of adolescent girls have often been missing

UNICEF mission statement, UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and…

KATHMANDU/NEW YORK/ DHAKA, 23 July 2020 – Weeks of torrential monsoon rains, widespread flooding and deadly landslides in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal have affected millions of children and families, UNICEF said today. Over 4 million children are currently estimated to be impacted and in urgent need of life-saving support, with many…

MOGADISHU, 23 July 2020 – An estimated 5.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, including over 3 million children, due to the combined devastating impact of floods, the locust invasion and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “Somalia is one of the most fragile nations in the world, a country that has experienced decades of conflict,…

KINSHASA, 23 July 2020 – More than 32 children have lost or have been separated from one or both parents due to Ebola since a new outbreak was declared on 1 June in Equateur Province, western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UNICEF said today, as the organisation warned that the response urgently needs to be stepped up. A previous outbreak…

As COVID-19 tears through communities across the globe, children have become the hidden victims of the pandemic . School closures and other lockdown measures adopted to stem the spread of the virus have cut off millions of children from quality learning, critical vaccines, and nutritious diets. For girls, disruptions also come at the cost of their…, Episode 1: A pandemic through a girl’s eyes, As their schools close and their families struggle to stay afloat, girls in nine countries grapple with social isolation and the threat of poverty and child marriage.    “Many parents don’t have a job or money for school fees, so they have started planning to send their children to work,” says Sangamithra, 15, in India. “In [the] case of girls,…, Episode 2: Education through a girl’s eyes, Nationwide lockdowns in 194 countries left 1.6 billion children – approximately 90 per cent of the world's students – out of school by early April. Many girls risk never returning to the classroom, as families turn to child marriage or child labour to ease their economic burdens. “The idea of not sending girls to school, especially in the area…, Episode 3: Relationships through a girl’s eyes, Previous health emergencies have shown that girls face a heightened risk of early marriage and pregnancy, especially as they lose access to school, social networks, and critical reproductive health services. “I want a social system where women and children are completely safe,” says Trisha, 15, in Bangladesh. “Child marriage is a curse for our…, Episode 4: Inequality through a girl’s eyes, As COVID-19 spreads, girls speak up for their right to live free from female genital mutilation, and to access equal opportunities for protection and well-being. “Even if a cure has been found, will countries like ours be given access?” asks Esta, 15, in Niger., Episode 5: The future through a girl’s eyes, Girls across the world reimagine a future that’s inclusive and fair.   “I ask the parents who are watching to protect and take care of their children, to understand that we have something to say, that our thoughts matter, because we are the future,” says Makadidia, 15, in Mali.             All video footage was shot by the girls themselves and…