Global Citizen Festival

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Hello, Global Citizens!

Thank you, Stephen.

I’ll tell anyone who will listen that we can no longer be a generation of bystanders.

Join me in holding your leaders accountable for achieving the new Global Goals.

Together we can make poverty history.

Failing is not an option. Are you with me?

Education opens the doors to all kinds of opportunities.

Children I have met, in northern Vietnam, in Malawi and elsewhere, have all told me, very clearly:

- they want education;

- they want to become teachers, nurses, doctors and engineers;

- they want to contribute to their communities and build their nations.

We must ensure that every child can have 12 years of free, safe, quality education – of which at least nine years should be compulsory.

We must reach the poorest children and those trapped in conflict zones.

To keep girls in school, good sanitation facilities are a must. Norway plans to increase its support for water and sanitation efforts by at least 6 million dollars next year.

We can use the Global Citizen Festival as our collective megaphone to call for a massive increase in education funding.

Norway is doubling its contribution to global education, including to the Global Program for Education, over the four year period since my government took office.

Global Citizens,

We have the power to turn the dreams of millions of children into reality.

Let’s start now!

With us to push for education is the First Lady of the United States of America, Mrs Michelle Obama. Please listen to her message to you.