Malala Fund is investing in three trusted partners working on the frontlines to keep girls connected to learning under the most severe circumstances.
Entering the New Year, we stand in solidarity with girls on the frontlines of conflict and crisis, whose right to education is not a privilege—it’s a lifeline. That’s why we’re announcing $300,000 to partners providing education and emergency relief in Gaza, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Malala Fund is investing in three trusted partners working on the frontlines to keep girls connected to learning under the most severe circumstances:
$100,000 to Taawon in Gaza
$100,000 to Women’s Response Rooms in Sudan
$100,000 to Panzi Foundation in the DRC
Their teams provide urgent relief, safe learning spaces, mental health support to children coping with trauma, and pathways for pregnant and young mothers to build fulfilling lives.
“I call on governments to demonstrate even a fraction of the courage girls show every day and take concrete action to protect their right to learning,” said Malala Yousafzai, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Malala Fund. “International actors, including UN agencies, regional bodies, and states with influence over parties responsible for war crimes must uphold international law and safeguard children’s safety and education.”
Malala Fund invites everyone to stand with every girl fighting for her education, learn more about these organizations, and contribute what they can.
Supporting Learning in Gaza:
Children in Gaza continue enduring relentless bombardment, mass displacement, and the destruction of homes and schools. In the midst of devastation, education is one of the few remaining anchors of safety and hope. Children deserve classrooms and protection, not hunger or the loss of a future.
Malala Fund is supporting Taawon to provide urgent relief and education programs that help children stay connected to learning. Taawon is expanding access to Temporary Learning Spaces as critical havens, and offering non-formal education tailored to children’s needs. They also provide mental health and psychosocial support and resilience-building activities to help children cope with trauma.
These programs are reaching 400 children, giving them the structure, support, and hope they need to continue learning. Our funding will ensure more girls and boys in Gaza keep learning and building resilience, even in the hardest circumstances.
Restoring Education Pathways for Girls in Sudan:
The conflict in Sudan is displacing millions of families and forcing thousands of school closures, placing girls at severe risk of never returning to the classroom. Mutual Aid Sudan Coalition, Malala Fund’s partner on the ground, provides lifesaving assistance and creates safe pathways back to learning through Women’s Response Rooms.
Defined and led by Sudanese women, these programs operate through local volunteers whose skills and knowledge enable them to adapt to communities’ unique needs. They provide essential services to protect girls, preserve their dignity, and ensure access to education.
By funding Women’s Response Rooms, Malala Fund is ensuring that girls in Sudan can continue learning during conflict, while supporting local women to lead solutions rooted in their communities.
Care and Education for Survivors of Sexual Violence in the DRC:
In the DRC, resource-driven war is displacing families and exposing women and girls to extreme violence. Sexual violence is used as a weapon of war, leaving countless survivors traumatized — and for many girls, resulting in unwanted pregnancies that carry serious health risks and stigma.
Malala Fund is supporting Panzi Foundation, a leader in survivor-centred care. Panzi’s pioneering midwifery model provides integrated and specialized care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the critical first year of life. Developed by midwives, gynecologists, pediatricians, psychologists, social workers, and mentor survivors, this approach addresses the physical and emotional needs of young mothers. Since 2021, over 600 girls and women — 75% under 18 — have given birth safely at Panzi under their comprehensive model.
Recognizing that education is essential for breaking the cycle of violence and poverty, Panzi also connects survivors to schooling and skills training after childbirth, supporting them to build independent, hopeful futures for themselves and their children.
As conflict escalates in the DRC, the number of girls facing pregnancies as a result of sexual violence is expected to rise sharply in 2026. Malala Fund’s support will help Panzi expand its life-changing care across its network of hospitals and One Stop Centers, ensuring every pregnant survivor can access compassionate medical support and the education needed to reclaim her future.