International Day of Education 2026: The power of youth in co-creating education


Every year on 24 January, the world marks the International Day of Education to reminder us why education matters. The theme for 2026 is “The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education.”
In simple terms, it means this:
Young people should not only be taught — they should help shape education.

At SkillHer, this is something we strongly believe in.

Too often, education is designed for young people without asking them what they actually need. But young people understand their own challenges, goals, and realities better than anyone else. When their voices are included, education becomes more useful, more practical, and more empowering.

This is exactly what we saw through the SkillHer SAW project, recently highlighted by the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC). Young women were not just trained — they helped shape learning spaces that reflected their real needs. They learned digital skills, shared ideas, supported one another, and gained confidence to participate more fully in the digital world.

That is what co-creating education looks like.

Education should not stop at certificates. It should build confidence, skills, leadership, and opportunity. And this can only happen when young people — especially young women — are treated as partners, not just students.

As we mark International Day of Education 2026, SkillHer calls on educators, organisations, and leaders to:

  • Listen to young people

  • Involve them in decisions about learning

  • Support youth-led and youth-designed education programs

When youth are included, education works better — for everyone.


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