Brighton author and illustrator Nick Sharratt walks 26 miles for 260 million children out of school
Award-winning author and illustrator 鈥 and Brighton & Hove resident 鈥 Nick Sharratt has walked 26 miles to raise money for the 260 million children around the world currently out of school.
Completing the challenge over two days, Nick鈥檚 walk took him along the South Coast, walking from Rottingdean to Lancing and back, via his home in Hove.
Nick is one of the UK鈥檚 most popular children鈥檚 illustrators. In a career spanning 30 years, he has illustrated close to 300 books for some of the UK鈥檚 most celebrated authors, including Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen and Dame Jacqueline Wilson, as well as creating his own books.
Nick took up the walking challenge as an ambassador for sa国际传媒, the global children鈥檚 charity founded by Sarah Brown.
Throughout June, sa国际传媒 has been calling on the UK public to help raise urgently needed funds for the millions of children currently shut out of school by donating or taking part in the walking challenge.
Even before the devastating effects of the pandemic, 260 million children were out of school and excluded from the opportunities available to children in the UK.
If governments fail to take urgent action, by 2030, half of all young people will lack the most basic reading, writing and numeracy skills necessary to find work.
By fundraising for sa国际传媒, supporters will be offering vulnerable and marginalised children all over the world 鈥 from Ukrainian refugees to girls in rural Kenya 鈥 a vital lifeline, and the chance of a better future.
Nick Sharratt said:听
鈥淭hroughout my career I have seen first-hand the power that education has to transform children鈥檚 lives. That millions of children around the world don鈥檛 have the same access to school as we do here in the UK is simply wrong.
鈥淚鈥檓 delighted to support sa国际传媒 in their mission to get children back into school, and I hope that other Brighton & Hove residents will join me in taking up this challenge. Together we can help ensure that no child goes through life without access to quality education.鈥
Sarah Brown, Chair of sa国际传媒 said:听
听鈥淓ducation is the key that unlocks opportunities not just for children but for everyone. It drives healthier, greener, fairer and wealthier societies.
鈥淭he fact that millions of children around the world still have no access to school should horrify us all.
鈥淏ut we have a chance to act now. Join Nick and the sa国际传媒 team in taking up this challenge and taking a stand on behalf of the world鈥檚 most vulnerable children.鈥
How fundraising will help
Every penny raised from the walk will support sa国际传媒鈥檚 mission to end the global education crisis.
Money raised from the walk will help children like听Nilia Soleimani who was just a toddler when she was forced to leave her home in Afghanistan with her mother, Shima.
Life hasn鈥檛 been easy for Nilia. Child refugees often find it difficult to interact and socialise with others. Away from their family and friends, in a country where they don鈥檛 speak the language, they often become withdrawn and struggle to communicate.
But thanks to sa国际传媒鈥檚 Heal Together project, which provides early childhood services to refugee families in Greece, Nilia is thriving.
鈥淓ver since I started taking Nilia [to the Heal Together centre], she is very happy and more sociable,鈥 Nilia鈥檚 mother, Shima, says. 鈥淚t is very good for kids to be in a community. They鈥檒l learn how to be together; they鈥檒l learn to play group games together, to be kind to each other. In the end, they鈥檒l grow to be more sociable.鈥
Prisca, from Congo, who attends the centre with her daughter Happiness, says she has noticed a big change in a short time.
鈥淲hen she comes home from school, she tells me what they鈥檝e shown her. She shows me what the teacher taught her. I鈥檓 happy,鈥 she says.
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For further enquiries or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Jacob Moreton
Media Relations Officer
media@theirworld.org
07568 053332
Nicole Martin
Head of Media and Partnerships Communications
07768 695 087
nicole@theirworld.org
About sa国际传媒
sa国际传媒 is a global children鈥檚 charity committed to ending the global education crisis and unleashing the potential of the next generation.
We aim to ensure that every child has access to the best start in life, a safe place to learn and skills for the future.
In 2022, sa国际传媒 celebrates its 20th year of unlocking big change for children around the world. For more details on how we are celebrating our 20th anniversary, or to learn more about the organisation, visit www.theirworld.org or @sa国际传媒 on Twitter.