Safe Horizons by Plan International, funded by the EU

Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru face multiple and overlapping crises, which have severe consequences on education in the region: millions of children in Latin America routinely miss school because classrooms are caught in crossfire, school buildings are destroyed by natural disasters or because education is disrupted by displacement.

The photo exhibition (developed by Plan International and photographer Chris de Bode) at the European Humanitarian Forum will explore the daily and personal challenges faced by children across the region in their quest for education.

To address their challenges, Plan International, with European Union funding, is implementing the regional project: “Safe Horizons: Andean Alliance for Disaster-Resilient Education.” By promoting the implementation of the Safe School Initiative in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, Plan International aims to minimize the impact of crises on children’s learning, and foster protective and resilient educational environments, reaching more than 85,000 children, youth and adults.

At regional level, the project engages regional education networks, national ministries of education, and youth representatives to reach common agreements and frameworks for the rollout of the Safe Schools Initiative. At local level, the project supports 64 schools in being better prepared to handle emergencies, mitigate existing risks, and create an enabling environment for students’ academic and personal development.

Acknowledging that multiple and overlapping crises have resulted in significant school dropout risks, Safe Horizons also focuses on school retention efforts, including back-to-school campaigns, school infrastructure improvements, and cash and voucher assistance to promote children’s and adolescents’ education access.

To ensure initiative ownership by educational community stakeholders at local, national and regional levels, Safe Horizons promotes the co-responsibility of these interest groups in the protection of children and adolescents, generating safe educational communities both inside and outside of schools.