In the News

A 2020 Vision

The opportunity to help put girls and boys around the world in school under the leadership of Jeffrey Sachs and his incredible team at The Earth Institute and Millennium Promise was thrilling enough—even before I knew about the amazing partners that had circled together with them around this goal. With Madonna and Ericsson on board as founding partners—she as the campaign’s chief “Education for All” Ambassador and advocate, and Ericsson the lead technology driver of the effort—it became clear to me that this initiative was truly unprecedented. A magic partnership aimed to help catalyze a worldwide movement in support of education for everyone, everywhere by the year 2020.

Their vision: put secondary school scholarships in the hands of students, especially girls and young women, and use information and communications technology to enhance the quality of education by connecting school kids, classrooms and teachers globally. With Madonna working to engage her massive global fan base to ensure that every child has access to a quality education, and Ericsson, the world’s leading telecommunications provider, making it possible to reach another billion potential contributors—no wonder the goal is ambitious.

Connect To Learn is beginning work immediately, launching the organization with a campaign to ensure that every school-aged child in the Millennium Villages—a renowned development project being carried out in 10 African countries—has access to secondary schools. We will soon be working to support education and scholarship campaigns in other developing regions of the world and establishing partnerships in support of the cause globally. Additionally, and critically, with Ericsson’s technological leadership, we’re already at work to ensure that the education we offer utilizes—through connectivity—the best teaching and research resources available worldwide. We’re aiming not only to make sure all kids have the ability to go to school, but also to level the quality of education worldwide.

There will be myriad ways for you and/or your organization to get involved as this initiative takes shape, and you are invited to play a part no matter how large or small. Thank you for joining us in this effort, and please invite your family, friends and colleagues to join us, too!

Let’s connect every young person in the world to the opportunities that come with the solid foundation of primary and secondary education.

— Kara Nichols, Executive Director