80-million children worldwide are denied access to a basic education. The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) was founded in 1999 and brings together nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and teachers’ unions in more than 150 countries to promote education as a basic human right and to work with governments and international leaders to provide free, basic education for every child in the world by the year 2015.

The U.S. Chapter of GCE was formed in 2003 and brings together a coalition of more than 30 non-governmental and religious organizations, teachers unions, foundations and child advocates to promote universal basic education in the world’s poorest nations.

In 1948, countries of the world came together and signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaiming that all children have the right to basic education. But in areas like Sub-Saharan Africa, fewer than two-thirds of students enrolled will complete primary school.

Some of Global Campaign for Education’s projects are:

* Girls’ Scholarship Program - Funds scholarships in Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

* Ubuntu Education Fund - Helps orphans and vulnerable children stay healthy and attend schools.

* Help build reading rooms in schools in Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Vietnam.

* Results Educational Fund - Mobilizes Americans to take action on global education.

* Building computer labs in Cambodia, India, Nepal and Vietnam.

* Publish local language children’s books in Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka, South Africa or Vietnam.

* Build a library in Cambodia, Laos, Nepal or Vietnam.

Donation and volunteer information is available on their website.