The Brightest Hope: Essays from Around the World on the Importance of Education in Times of Crisis

In order to elevate the voices of children and youth whose education has been affected by crisis, the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) launched an essay contest in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the INEE Minimum Standards. Contestants were asked to respond to one of two essay prompts: What has education meant to me in an emergency? Or, Why is education in emergencies important? The contest received a strong global response, with 720 submissions from participants aged seven to 68, in Arabic, French, Spanish and English from 52 different countries around the world.

This booklet features essays from the INEE Minimum Standards 10th Anniversary Essay Contest. These essays give voice to some of the worst disasters in recent years, and they highlight the power of education to be life saving and life sustaining in emergency contexts and situations of adversity.