It's back-to-school time here in the United States, so we've collected some photos to serve as inspiration for the new academic year. The images below feature pupils of all different ages and cultures exercising their right to learn, despite the challenges of poverty. The classrooms may look different, but the goal of getting an education is universal.
Belize
Preschoolers from a Child Aid project in Belize sit patiently on stage during their graduation ceremony.
Botswana
Children from the community gather to learn about health through a HOPE project educator.
China
Young students having a stretch during the school day in rural China.
The Democratic Republic of Congo
Students circle around for a lesson in a classroom. The DRC is one of the countries that benefit from Planet Aid-supported teacher training.
Guinea-Bissau
This classroom in Guinea-Bissau may not be constructed with traditional building materials, but it doesn't stop the children from learning. The teacher pictured here is a graduate of the DNS Teacher Training college in the town of Cacheu.
India
Street children in India are not often afforded the opportunity to complete their education. Academies for Working Children provide a path towards traditional education for those who have been sidetracked from the formal schooling system.
Zimbabwe
Proof that you can get an education at any stage of your life, this mother from Zimbabwe holds her child while seated in class.
Laos
Children in the Child Aid project in Laos use the garden as their classroom as they learn about sustainable agriculture.
Malawi
Child marriage was banned in Malawi earlier this year, meaning that young girls now have a better chance at completing their education. The Teacher Training program in Malawi also increases the chance of these girls' success by deploying highly-qualified educators to the rural areas of the country.
Angola
A crowded classroom like the one pictured here will not get in the way of determined students. ADDP has been training teachers in Angola to handle these difficult conditions since 1995.
Brazil
Young learners from the Child Aid project in Brazil flex their creative muscles in the classroom.
Mozambique
Pupils enthusiastically raise their hands to answer the question of their teacher, Pelagio. This is just one of the classrooms benefiting from the Food for Knowledge project, which supports rural education in Mozambique through school feeding, teacher training, and other initiatives.
South Africa
Young students in South Africa sit patiently in anticipation of a presentation organized by the Child Aid project.
Zambia
Hands-on learning in action! Preschoolers in Zambia working with clay have fun making shapes.
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