Today we are celebrating World Book Day, an internationally recognized holiday created by UNESCO 29 years ago today as a worldwide celebration of books and reading. Over 100 countries around the globe are sharing in this celebration of books and reading!
As we celebrate, we are also thinking of the millions of children right now inside makeshift refugee settlements, damaged classrooms and communities torn apart by war and disaster, who are desperately holding on to the hope that education will allow them to realize their dreams.
To honor these children and share their story, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and NABU have joined efforts in developing the children’s book, Zaya’s Dream.
Zaya's Dream, launched today to mark World Book Day, brings readers into young Zaya's world as she is forced to flee her home with her family, eventually finding new hope at a refugee camp learning center. Along her journey, Zaya learns to dream again. While Zaya is a fictional character, her story represents that of millions of children who have had their lives turned upside-down by crises. Zaya’s story is one of crisis, hope and determination.
At its core, education is a source of protection for the world’s most vulnerable children. That is why ECW, the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises within the United Nations, focuses on delivering quality education to refugees and other forcibly displaced children in its education investments in crises around the world. These ECW-funded holistic education programs are working to address the diverse needs of crisis-affected girls and boys like Zaya – not only improving academic outcomes, but also working with partners to provide mental health and psychosocial services, school meals, menstrual hygiene management support, teacher training and more.
Our aspiration is that this book provides a window into the experience of refugee children and fosters empathy among young readers worldwide. The tale of Zaya’s Dream has inspired a new collection of NABU stories that will reach millions of children who are in utmost need. The first books in this collection will be released late 2024.
Visit our web reader to read "Zaya's Dream" today!
Visit the ECW blog to learn more!
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