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MEDIA CENTER Population Council Commits to Ending Educational
Disparities for Poor Children Worldwide at Clinton Global Initiative Annual
Meeting
NEW YORK, NY (27 September 2007)—The Population Council made a Commitment to Action at the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), a summit of leaders working together to devise solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges—including disparities in education. As part of this commitment, the Council was invited to join the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict. Cofounded by Angelina Jolie and Gene Sperling, the partnership was launched by former president Bill Clinton yesterday during the CGI meeting. Council schooling expert Cynthia Lloyd is representing the organization at media briefings and throughout the three-day conference, which unites heads of state, development professionals, journalists, humanitarians, and celebrities. The Population Council has conducted extensive research on schooling in developing countries, much of which is spearheaded by Lloyd. The Council’s latest project is a collaborative effort exploring the protective role of education among refugee children in Darfur, Sudan. The study team has launched a review of educational opportunities that includes site visits; interviews with children, families, and teachers; and focus groups. The information collected will be used to improve the quality and safety of the schools in refugee camps. Previous Council studies have focused on patterns and trends in schooling for girls, particularly the relationship between experiences in school, school quality, and various adolescent outcomes, including school attendance and grade attainment; time use and work roles; sexual and reproductive health; gender role attitudes, citizenship, and community participation; and transitions to marriage and childbearing. After working intermittently in Sudan for more than 20 years to enhance the capacity of local professionals and institutions, the Population Council opened an office in Khartoum last year. Other current projects in Sudan focus on urban poverty and health and reproductive health issues. Staff from the Population Council will partner with the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children on the project in Darfur, called “The Protective Role of Education in Humanitarian Emergencies.” (additional information: www.popcouncil.org/Darfur). The effort is funded through a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. About the Population Council ### Media contact See Also
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