Commonweal School students take their campaign for education to Houses of Parliament

On 12 July local pupils at Commonweal School acted as representatives in Parliament for the 300,000 strong Send My Friend to School youth campaign calling for increased investment in the power of education around the world.

World leaders have made clear a promise to ensure every child in the world gets a quality education by 2030. But a key piece of the puzzle is missing – the money to pay for this education – leaving the global picture with 263 million children missing out on school, and many of those in school not learning. In the world’s poorest countries, only half of primary school aged children and little more than a quarter of secondary school age children are learning basic primary and secondary level skills.

So, to get the attention of their local MPs, thousands of young people across the country have been creating eye-catching paper jigsaw pieces symbolising that there is a missing piece in the global education puzzle – the money to pay for good quality schooling. And have added their own messages about why they think the UK should invest in the power of education.

Holly Griffiths and Maegan Watts (both 14) were selected from lots of applicants to become Send My Friend Campaign Champions. Alongside 16 others they took the message of the campaign right to the head of government through a Parliament Action Day, meeting with local MP Robert Buckland, as well as other parliamentarians and ministers.

Maegan said: "It was an honour to be chosen to represent the 300,000 other young people across the country involved in the campaign, and for our voices to be heard. This experience has built my confidence and I will continue to campaign for global education in the future."

Holly said: "I think that education is important because it means that you can get a job when you are older. There are millions of children who could achieve so much and they are just not given the chance. This was a really good experience, I’m so glad I could be involved. It was very special and exciting to meet politicians and see where they work."

Lottie O’Brien at Commonweal School said: "This has been a truly life changing experience for our students, it has increased their political understanding, taught them how to instigate change and lead campaigns. They are so passionate about the subject of Global Education and the transformative power of education to lift people out of poverty. I could not be more proud to see my students so knowledgeably and confidently challenging government ministers and being taken seriously."

Ema Jackson, Campaigns Manager for the Send My Friend to School said: “Education is powerful and transformative, and a basic human right for all children but despite this, 236 million receive no education and many more are in school but not learning. The world is experiencing an urgent education crisis. So I am delighted that Holly and Maegan at Commonweal are engaging with MP Robert Buckland to demand the UK invests in the future of the world.”

All schools are invited to get involved with the Send My Friend campaign - visit sendmyfriend.org for a free teaching resource pack with everything needed to take action on this important issue.