Colombia recognizes Education Above All Foundation’s contribution to strengthening the protection of education

The Education Above All (EAA) Foundation has been awarded the prestigious Simón Bolívar Order of Democracy – Grand Cross by the Congress of the Republic of Colombia, one of the country’s highest honors. The distinction recognizes the Foundation’s support for efforts that strengthen the protection of education from attack and expand access to education for vulnerable children across the country.

The honor reflects the EAA Foundation’s sustained collaboration with Colombian institutions and partners to support the right to education, particularly in communities affected by conflict, displacement, and poverty. The award ceremony took place on 6 May 2026 as part of an official mission, followed by field visits to EAA Foundation education projects in several areas that support out-of-school children and those at risk of dropping out.

Over the past two years, the EAA Foundation, through its Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict (PEIC) program, has provided technical support to national stakeholders to strengthen their understanding of attacks on education and approaches to accountability. This includes collaboration with Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace and contributions to a proposed draft law to strengthen accountability for attacks on education, including the recruitment of children and the targeting of teachers and schools.

The proposed legislation, currently under consideration in Congress, is an important step toward reinforcing national efforts to address the long-term impact of attacks on education and to ensure that children, teachers, and schools are better protected. It reflects Colombia’s broader commitment to strengthening justice and safeguarding the right to education as part of its ongoing transition toward sustainable peace.

Alongside this work on protection and accountability, the EAA Foundation has also supported efforts to expand access to quality primary education for marginalized children in Colombia through its Educate A Child (EAC) program. With support from its strategic partner, the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), and in partnership with Fundación Pies Descalzos, the Foundation has enabled thousands of marginalized children to realize their right to education by addressing multiple dimensions of educational inequality in prioritized regions across the country, including border territories with Venezuela.

To date, these efforts have supported the enrollment of more than 42,400 out-of-school children and benefited an additional 26,700 at-risk children, ensuring their continued participation in school.

A second phase of the project aims to reach 42,320 out-of-school children and help retain 32,160 at-risk students, with a continued focus on strengthening local education systems in areas most affected by exclusion, including Barranquilla, Cartagena, Medellín, Chocó, and border regions affected by migration. This approach supports more consistent identification, enrollment, and retention of children in the education system.

Colombia continues to face challenges related to access to education and protection. More than 250,000 children have been affected by attacks on education in Colombia since the signing of the Peace Agreement in 2016. At the same time, many children remain out of school or at risk of dropping out, reinforcing the need for coordinated approaches that protect education and support children’s access to and retention in education.

“Education is not only a right, but it is also a foundation for stability, resilience, and lasting peace. In Colombia, we have seen how strengthening the protection of education, alongside expanding access and supporting its continuity, can help ensure that children can attend school, remain there, and continue their education, even in challenging contexts. This recognition reflects the collective efforts of national institutions, partners, and communities working together to support the right to education and build stronger, more inclusive systems for the future”, Mohammed Al Kubaisi, CEO of Education Above All (EAA) Foundation. 

As countries around the world continue to address the impact of conflict and crisis on education, Colombia’s experience offers important lessons on how coordinated efforts can strengthen education systems, protect learning environments, and support children in accessing and remaining in education.

Behruz Khudoyberdiyev, UzA