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Equal Education and Child Protection

At SDDirect, we believe every child—girls, boys, and young people in their full diversity—deserves a safe, equitable world where they can thrive. Rooted in feminist principles of equal rights and opportunities, our work focuses on breaking down the structural inequalities that hold certain groups back. 

We place gender equality, disability rights, and social inclusion (GEDSI) at the core of our efforts in child protection and education. Children are at the heart of our work, recognising the unique lived experiences, rights, and aspirations of every girl and boy. Through meaningful participation, we ensure children’s voices are heard and respected in decisions that affect them.

Our approach addresses intersecting vulnerabilities, providing tailored support that promotes dignity, safety, and agency for all children. 

Two girls sitting on the pavement, looking at a computer.

Key Focus Areas
 

The Equal Education & Child Protection Portfolio works across 4 interlinked areas of focus:
Safe and Equal: (1) Education; (2) Transitions; (3) Homes; (4) Communities and Societies.

 

safe and equal
education

 

transitions
home

 

communities

Join Us 

Together, we can create a world where every girl and boy, regardless of their background or identity, has the opportunity to thrive. Explore our projects, learn more about our impact, or partner with us to make a difference. 

If you would like to hear more about the work of the Equal Education and Child Protection portfolio, please reach out to Danielle Cornish-Spencer, Head of Portfolio: danielle@sddirect.org.uk  

All our work is grounded in context-specific experience, knowledge and analysis. We focus on detailed analysis of gender, power dynamics, the impact of conflict and violence, and barriers to equal access and inclusion.

We deliver education programming in a diverse range of country contexts, including development and humanitarian settings. We take an intersectional approach to understanding how key structural and social factors overlap and create barriers for certain groups in accessing education.

We have a strong track record of providing technical leadership and support on an integrated approach to gender equality, social inclusion and safeguarding on large-scale education programmes.

Why is LGBTQI+ inclusive education so important and what can be done?

When I think back to my time at school here in the UK, I struggle to remember a point in which the curriculum or general personal, social, health and economics (PSHE) sessions, ever included discussion about gender identity and sexual orientation. During sex education in both Year 6 and Year 9, there was no reference to LGBTQI+ people for example. This was most likely because of Section 28, the damaging legislation that prohibited discussion of LGBTQ+ in schools between 1988 and 2003 in the UK.

Girls' Education Challenge (GEC)

The FCDO Girls’ Education Challenge (GEC) was launched in 2012 as a 12-year commitment to reach the most marginalised girls in the world. Working across 41 projects delivered by over 30 implementing partners in 17 countries, the GEC is the largest global fund dedicated to girls’ education. The GEC has radically reformed its approach to safeguarding over the last three years, in line with the UK government’s new safeguarding policies, launched in 2018.

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