On 15 February, Action Education participated in the annual Swiss International Cooperation Congress on Education. Entitled " Education for Future", the event brought together people from the policy and research communities, the private and financial sectors, as well as NGOs and youth. The aim of the congress is to find common solutions to ensure access to education worldwide.

Organised at the invitation of Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the congress represents a real added value for joint reflection and action. In addition to the Head of the FDFA and the Director of the Directorate and Department of Cooperation Patricia Danzi, participants from the world of politics, research, the private and financial sectors, NGOs and youth attended the event.

Education at the heart of the Second Annual Congress

Basic education and vocational training are key areas of Switzerland's international cooperation. Quality education is an essential prerequisite for sustainable development. "Everyone has the right to have access to education so that they can freely choose their life path and develop their potential. I am convinced that personal success and well-being depend on this fundamental freedom, here and everywhere in the world", emphasises Ignazio Cassis. But education systems all over the world are facing major challenges. Even before the pandemic, six out of ten children did not have a basic level of literacy and numeracy, and COVID-19 has made the situation worse: many schools have closed, children have been unable to continue their education and young people have had to interrupt their training. So events like this are important to enable NGO and education professionals to think about the best responses to today's challenges.

Youth in the spotlight at Action Education in 2023

Worldwide, according to the International Labour Organisation's 2019 report, 1 in 5 young people are out of school, untrained and unemployed. At Action Education, we believe that it is necessary to provide these young people with a quality education; it is essential to support them to obtain decent and sustainable employment. That is why in 2023, Action Education is committed to working with young people, particularly those from vulnerable and marginalised communities.