2005: Send My Friend to School
In 2005, GCE mobilised unprecedented public pressure on governments and the international community, demanding that they fulfil their obligations to provide free, quality education for all people and that they Educate to End Poverty. Around the globe, from 25-30 April, millions of campaigners, child rights activists and teachers took to the streets, descended on parliament buildings, and brought politicians back to school, carrying with them a distinctive tribute to the children around the world who are left behind by education systems.
The Send My Friend to School challenge invited global campaigners, old and young, to make a simple cardboard cut-out figure, each one representing a child out of school. Dubbed ‘friends’, these cut-outs were decorated with drawings and frequently enhanced with colours, beads, fabric and wool. On each, the maker wrote a message to world leaders, imploring, pleading and demanding that all children should have the chance to go to school. During Action Week, politicians were confronted by these cut-out ‘friends’ and asked to sign a pledge to take a specifi c action during 2005 to send these ‘friends’ – and all children – to school. And in many countries, ‘friends’ were collected together in huge numbers to deliver to important political events that aff ected the chances of children going to school.
Action Week saw politicians and officials flooding into school rooms where they were presented with ‘friends’ and saw the reality of life at the chalkface. Children voiced issues that adults fear to mention; in one rich country a boy asked, “Why do you spend so much on war when you could spend it on educating poor people?” In some countries they showed maps that highlighted those less lucky than themselves and questioned the lack of action to bring them all into the school gates. Over 3,000 parliamentarians and 25 Heads of State went back to school and many made pledges and promises to bring about change in education in their countries.
GCE campaigners didn’t stop there. A host of animated and attention-grabbing activities took place in capitals, towns and villages all across the world. Marches, rallies, debates and dramas all created an impact that will be felt for years to come. ‘Friends’ were adapted in each country – in the Philippines, they were made into kites and flown through the streets; in Bangladesh, the sails of small boats featured messages to “Send My Friend to School” and in Brazil, giant, life-sized ‘friends’ were designed like carnival puppets. In India, a protest marathon ran for education, and in Paris, 24 artists’ ‘friends’ were exhibited at UNESCO headquarters.
