Education
Sightsavers works with local and national partners in our programme countries to promote inclusive, quality education, giving all children the chance to go to school.
Disability more than doubles a child’s chances of being out of school.
Despite significant increases in school participation over the past decade and efforts to reduce gender disparities, children with disabilities continue to be left behind, with girls more likely to miss out on education than boys.
And when children are denied their right to education, they become locked into a cycle of poverty and dependence.
Inclusive education
in Senegal
Sightsavers’ inclusive education pilot project in Senegal has demonstrated that children with and without disabilities can learn together in mainstream schools. The project was funded by Irish Aid.
Learn more
The right to education: how we're supporting children to learn
Henry’s story
An inclusive school programme for blind children in Sierra Leone has boosted Henry’s confidence: his ambition is to become a politician.
Read his story
Mbathio’s story
Mbathio's inclusive school in Dakar is challenging perceptions within the local community that blind children are unable to learn.
Read her story
Mafoune’s story
An inclusive education project in Mali has been life-changing for 11-year-old Mafoune, and has had a huge impact on her whole family.
Read her story
Resources
Strategy
Education strategy (2013-2018)
This document outlines Sightsavers’ strategic directions in education for 2013-2018. It places our work in the field of global education in its various contexts, identifies the goal of our work, and identifies the approaches and fields of activity that will enable us to achieve this goal.
View the strategy [pdf]
View the strategy, French version [pdf]
View the education strategy summary [pdf]
Guides
The Inclusion Champions’ Handbook
Inclusion champions are experienced and qualified teachers who have been specially selected to participate in a three-year project to promote inclusion in schools in the Bombali District, Sierra Leone.
View the Inclusion Champions’ Handbook [pdf]
Albinism guide
Information about albinism and how to support children in the school setting or at home.
Albinism guide for teachers and parents [pdf]
Albinism guide for teachers and parents, French version [pdf]
Posters
Assisting children who are visually impaired
View poster, English version [pdf]
View poster, French version [pdf]
More about education
“We’ve learned to treat all children equally”
Sightsavers' Kate McCoy travelled to northern Sierra Leone to visit a school where teachers are being specially trained to support children with disabilities.
Sightsavers India wins prestigious award for its inclusive education programme
More than 3,300 NGOs applied for the HCL Grant, which supports organisations that help to transform rural India through sustainable development.
Mafoune’s story
Eleven-year-old Mafoune has low vision. She is happy and confident, but she wasn’t always like this: an inclusive education project for children with disabilities has made all the difference.
We campaign for a fairer world
Learn more