How Sightsavers’ education work makes a difference
Sightsavers strengthens fragile education systems across Africa and Asia to promote inclusive, quality education, giving all children the chance to go to school.
When children are denied their right to education, they become trapped in a cycle of poverty and dependence.
Our C.A.S.E for education aims to break that cycle so that all education is:
Continuous: From early childhood onwards.
Accessible: Free from physical, attitudinal, economic and communication barriers.
Sustainable: Owned by local communities and governments.
Equitable: Including all children and young people, especially those with special educational needs and disability and those who are particularly disadvantaged.
Our work leaves no child behind
Child-centred
We put children at the centre of teaching and learning. Using community-based participatory research methods, we make sure their views and concerns are listened to.
Gender-inclusive
We recognise girls often experience multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. We promote gender equality and safeguarding as an integral part of all our projects.
Pan-disability
We ensure schools are accessible and free from physical, attitudinal, economic and communication barriers for children with all types of disabilities.
Video: our project in Senegal
Community-based
Our programmes are owned by schools and surrounding communities. Together, they identify and implement strategies for the inclusion of all children with disabilities.
Video: our project in Malawi
Collaborative
Organisations of people with disabilities play a leading role in our programmes, particularly in advocating for the rights of people with disabilities and working with us to ensure can provide the best support to children with disabilities.
Influential
We influence the policy and practice of donors and institutional actors to ensure development and education policy is inclusive.
Learn about our contribution to the Global Education Monitoring Report
Innovative
We’re pioneering innovative approaches, from assistive devices to identifying low cost solutions, such as adapted bicycles so children can travel to and from community pre-schools.
Learn how we support children when resources are scarce
System-strengthening
We strengthen all the elements of government systems to promote changes which are scalable and sustainable, ensuring inclusive education is consistent – from early years all the way through to vocational and technical education.
Informed by data
Sightsavers is one of the founding champions of the Inclusive Data Charter, a global initiative to ensure data on the world’s most marginalised people, including children with disabilities, is available to accelerate progress towards the SDGs.
Adapting our work during COVID-19
During the pandemic we supported distance learning via WhatsApp and distributed phones, braille materials and hand sanitiser. We’re also advocating to governments to scale up our inclusive model.
Reaching children during lockdownLeaflet: leaving no child behind
A guide of our education workPartner with Sightsavers
Local capacity
Sightsavers works in more than 30 countries, and has project offices in 25. We have established partnerships with ministries of education and organisations of people with disabilities, and our programme staff have extensive experience working with local education systems.
Technical and research expertise
Our country offices are supported by our network of global technical leads, along with our global policy and advocacy and our monitoring, evaluation and learning teams. We are the only development focused NGO in the UK with independent research organisation status.
Proven strategic partner
We have significant experience working with UK aid. We’re skilled at leading, but equally trusted as a consortium partner. We deliver disability inclusion and health services at a global scale, and are responsible for contracts with a current value of more than £250 million. Sightsavers leads the Inclusive Futures initiative – a 16-partner consortium delivering the UK government’s Disability Inclusive Development programme. This large scale, six-year programme promotes innovative, scalable inclusive education in sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia, and the Middle East.
Find out more about partnering with us
We work in close partnership with governments and other institutions to design sustainable projects based on solid evidence, and our work transforms lives and communities around the globe.
A corporate partnership with Sightsavers can add value to your business, gain great publicity and help you fulfil your corporate social responsibility objectives.
Find out how trusts and foundations can support our work and become part of the Sightsavers' team.
Our education projects
Early childhood development
We’re supporting children with disabilities in their early years, making sure they’re included in pre-school so they're set up to achieve from an early age.
Primary and secondary education
We work to promote inclusive, quality education in developing countries to give all children, including those with disabilities, the chance to go to school.
Speak to us for more information
Contact us