Dear Students,

I regret I am unable to join you this afternoon in Washington due to unforeseen circumstances that have kept me in the UK.  While nothing would have pleased me more than facilitating a robust conversation among smart, talented and passionate youth from all over the globe, I find it appropriate that this is an entirely youth led event.  I would like to extend warm gratitude to Chernor Bah of the youth Advocacy Group for stepping in to moderate today’s conversation and thank the Global Campaign for Education US Chapter for organizing this event along with the support of AFT and the NYU Global Academic Center in Washington.

I am pleased to have members of DC schools and the Youth Advocacy group participating in the events this afternoon, all of whom are acting as a leading force in the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon’s Global Education First Initiative.

Today is a unique opportunity for you to engage in a global conversation to discuss the crucial mission of educating 61 million out of school children around the world, by 2015.  Achieving this is entirely in our reach, but in order to do achieve this goal, young people must continue to lead the charge.  You, more than anyone else, understand the value of an education.  As youth leaders, you must continue to demand progress and hold those in traditional places of power accountable.

I stand by you in this goal, and am committed to creating more opportunity for youth to have their rightful place, at the centre of discussions and actions to get all children into school and learning.  I look forward to hearing the outcomes of your discussions when I host a series of civil society led events in this very room on Friday.

Yours sincerely,

Gordon Brown
UN Special Envoy for Global Education

To view the conversation, CLICK HERE.