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International Day of Education 2026

The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education

24 January 2026

Across the world, young people are shaping the future of education. On the International Day of Education 2026, UNESCO highlights the theme “The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education”—a call to recognize young people not just as learners, but as partners in rebuilding inclusive, relevant and resilient education systems.

Au Impact Circle Germany e.V., together with Impact Circle for Nature, this message resonates deeply with our work in Melong, Cameroon, where conflict-affected children and youth are striving to learn, adapt and rebuild their futures under extremely difficult conditions.

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Why Education in Melong Matters

Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis, affecting the country’s two English-speaking regions, has forced thousands of families to flee their homes. Many have sought safety in French-speaking areas such as Melong, becoming Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

For children and youth, displacement has meant:

• Prolonged school closures and interrupted learning

• Overcrowded classrooms or no access to school at all

• Loss of safe learning spaces and qualified teachers

• Increased vulnerability to child labour, early marriage and trauma

In Melong, IDP children often learn in temporary, unsafe or overstretched facilities, while host community schools struggle to absorb the growing number of pupils. Despite these challenges, families and young people continue to show remarkable determination to learn.

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Our Response: Co-Creating Education with Communities

In response, Impact Circle Germany e.V., in partnership with Impact Circle for Nature and local stakeholders, is supporting the establishment of the École maternelle et primaire bilingue intégrée de Melong (MINBIPS).

The project aims to:

• Provide safe, inclusive and bilingual education (English & French)

• Serve both IDP and host-community children

• Create learning spaces where youth voices and needs shape education

• Lay the foundation for long-term community-led education solutions

Youth and parents are actively involved in shaping the vision of the school—reflecting the IDE 2026 call for young people as co-creators of education, not passive recipients.

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Why This Connects to IDE 2026

The Melong project is not just about classrooms—it is about restoring dignity, opportunity and voice to children and youth affected by conflict.

By supporting this initiative, you are contributing to:

• Youth-centred education in crisis settings

• Inclusive learning that bridges linguistic and cultural divides

• Community resilience and peacebuilding through education

• Progress toward SDG 4: Quality Education for All

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How You Can Support

On this International Day of Education, you can stand with displaced and disadvantaged children in Melong.

You can support the project by:

• Making a financial donation

• Contributing educational materials or equipment

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Join the Global Conversation

We proudly align with UNESCO’s International Day of Education 2026.

#EducationDay @UNESCO | @Education2030UN | @GEMReport

Together, we can ensure that even in times of conflict, education remains a pathway to hope, agency and a better future.