Minister Sajjan announces $67.2 million to support education for displaced children and youth as Canada hosts Together for Learning Summit

March 30, 2022 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

The current crisis in Ukraine has so far resulted in more than 3.9 million refugees.  This is just the latest of the many crises disrupting education for millions of displaced youth worldwide. Canada recognizes that conflict and instability, including the COVID-19 pandemic, can destroy and disrupt lives and jeopardize the futures of children and youth. That is why Canada remains committed to promoting quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for refugee, forcibly displaced and host community children and youth.

Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, launched Canada’s Together for Learning Summit: Engaging Displaced Youth to Transform Education and announced $67.2 million in development assistance funding to support education for children and youth experiencing forced displacement around the world.

The summit, which takes place virtually on March 30 and 31, 2022, is centred on amplifying the voices of youth who have experienced or continue to experience forced displacement and are passionate about access to education. Youth will engage with ministers of education, heads of non-governmental organizations and stakeholders as problem solvers and decision makers to discuss how to advance inclusive and quality education, gender equality, and technology and innovation for displaced children and youth.

By the end of the summit, the youth will release a manifesto with a call to action for governments, civil society, multilateral organizations and the private sector. A summit outcome document, developed through consultations with participating governments, will outline a range of concrete actions to advance education for the most marginalized children and youth, as well as shared commitments to ensuring meaningful youth participation in global efforts to address the impacts of conflict and crisis on children and youth.