Water and education are closely linked, particulary in developing countries. Every day, millions of children are deprived of their right to learn because they have no easy access to water and sanitation. In underprivileged countries where water is a rare resource, children must walk long hours to fetch water at the source or from a well, and to lead cattle to a stream. Girls are most often the ones who are left with these tasks, in the same way as they are the ones who must care for their loved ones suffering from waterborne diseases. Difficult access to water therefore explains in part why 104 million children, among which 65 million girls, are currently absent from school. Education is also effected by water contamination, since the resulting diseases force a great number of children to stay home. As a consequence, 443 million school days are lost each year because of infections linked to contaminated water. As for the children who continue to go to school in spite of it all, their learning abilities are often weakened by these diseases that affect their memory and concentration. Education is a driving force for a country’s development. To break the vicious circle of poverty, access to water must become a reality for all. www.onedrop.org ( less )

Smile Foundation is a national level development organisation working for underprivileged children and youth through various education, healthcare, livelihood and advocacy programmes across 21 states of India. Smile Foundation, under its social venture philanthropy model, also supports and builds capacities of grassroots level NGOs. The foundation has a bandwidth of more than 100 NGOs and 70 corporate and development organisations. ( less )

In India primary education is free for all. But in rural areas students are forced to pay bribe to teachers to access education. Mukesh Rajak, a community correspondent of IndiaUnheard exposes this petty corruption rampant in India ( less )

UNICEF's Rob Sixmith reports on support for improved education for Syrian children. ( less )

In this audio slideshow, Bill Gates talks about what the foundation's past nine years of focus on education have taught him about creating a culture of achievement in schools. This slideshow is from the 2009 Annual Letter from Bill Gates. ( less )

In this video, students—as well as some famous faces—outline the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations education mission: that determination, and high school itself, is not enough. Young people need more. They need a college degree. ( less )

2nd Millenium Goal: Primary education for all. 2008 World's biggest lesson. For more info on the Millenium Development Goals, visit: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/ ( less )

Millenium Development Goal # 2: Education for all.The Class of 2015: Education for All was launched in the UN on 25th September, 2008 in New York. It brings together world leaders and celebrities in their global commitment to make Education for All a reality by 2015. For more info on the Millenium Development Goals, visit: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/ ( less )

UNICEF's Shantha Bloeman reports on educational opportunities for girls compelled to work in Benin. ( less )

UNICEF correspondent Thomas Nybo reports on how UNICEF and its partners are helping Haitian children return to school. ( less )