Building Peace and Global Citizenship through Education
Today, more than 50 conflicts rage around the world—the highest number since World War II—involving more than 90 nations across their borders. UNICEF reports that nearly 19% of the world’s children are now living in conflict zones—up from around 10% in the 1990s. Over 473 million children—nearly 1 in 5 globally—are affected.
Beyond the immediate toll of these conflicts lies a silent tragedy: the exclusion of young people from education, opportunity, and the chance to contribute meaningfully to their societies. According to UNHCR, only 7% of refugee youth currently have access to tertiary and higher education, compared to the global average of 42% for non-refugees and displaced youth. And about 71% of refugees are hosted in low- and middle-income countries that are already overburdened with their own economic and social pressures. For young people trapped in conflict zones and fragile shelters, the everyday struggle is not just about survival, but also against marginalisation and invisibility.
Barriers that Deny Opportunity
Barriers to education are more than simple obstacles to learning and the classroom—they are profound denials of human potential and progression. When access to education is restricted, intellectual enrichment and ambitions erode. And when hope disappears, frustration and resentment grow, leading to social fragmentation and lost generations. Other than the challenges of political instability and uncertainty, financial hardship remains a major barrier. Poverty, compounded by rising living costs, deprives families of the ability to afford tuition, transportation, and other basic learning expenses.
Discrimination also plays a devastating role. Gender bias and forced marital circumstances continue to keep millions of girls and women out of classrooms. Ethnic minorities and people with disabilities frequently face institutional neglect or outright exclusion. For youth living in remote or conflict-affected areas, the physical distance from educational institutions creates a form of exile—cutting them off from equal opportunities for advancement and engagement in broader society.
When such barriers persist, they fuel disillusionment and alienation. Instead of becoming hopeful contributors to peace and prosperity, marginalised youth may feel invisible or forgotten. That is why education should never be treated as a luxury or a privilege. It is a fundamental human right and a vital tool for empowerment and transformation. It is the foundation on which young people become architects of global peace, social justice, and sustainable development within and beyond their societies.
The Cost of Exclusion
Education is expensive, yet exclusion is costlier! The price is paid in cycles of poverty and instability that no society can afford. In conflicts and wars, budgets for education are unfortunately the first cut, hardest hit and last prioritised. According to UNESCO, the annual finance gap for education is nearly US$ 100 billion. And yet, a staggering US$ 1.1 trillion could be lost annually by governments as a consequence of early school leavers, and US$ 3.3 trillion forfeited for children lacking basic skills. The cost of lost generations—millions of young people without tertiary and higher education, skills or hope—is incalculable. Conversely, every US$1 spent on a person’s education yields US$10 to US$15 in economic growth over that person’s working lifetime.
As highlighted in our Education Above All (EAA) Keynote Presentation at the IAFOR 11th Asian Conference on Education and International Development 2025, war and conflict are among the most prominent reasons for compromising the future and well-being of individuals and societies, especially in the realms of education and international cooperation. We must not ignore the impact of education at our peril.
What Real Investment Should Look Like
Meaningful investment in education means moving beyond traditional aid to embrace innovative financing. That may include fostering public-private partnerships (3Ps), as well as new funding models and cost-sharing mechanisms that treat education not as charity but as a strategic priority for peace, development and sustainability. Financing alone, nevertheless, is not enough. We must establish ecosystems of support, which would include education programs that address both funding gaps and the human realities behind them. That includes community building and inclusive pathways, mentoring, psychosocial support, and career opportunities. It implies ensuring that students don’t just enter classrooms, but rather thrive in relevant and quality education. Scholars must feel seen, valued, and connected.
Stories of success and impact among our EAA Qatar Scholarship recipients illustrate how opportunity and societal inclusion can transform lives. They are proof that when we invest in people, the returns are extraordinary. Education for the marginalised youth is not just about individual achievement—it’s about creating ripples of change that strengthen entire communities.
A Call to Action
Education is not merely about earning degrees. It is about preparing young people to become global and civically-engaged citizens. When governments, institutions, universities, donors and other stakeholders work together to make this vision a reality, they do more than provide aid. They demonstrate what true global citizenship means. And in doing so, they set the foundations for a more peaceful, inclusive world for the youth to build on—with no one left behind.
If we seek a world where conflict gives way to cooperation, poverty yields to prosperity, and exclusion is replaced by inclusion, then let’s work together to ensure that tertiary and higher education opportunities open doors and create pathways for more marginalised and conflict-affected youth.
Dr Amir Dhia
Dr. Amir Dhia is the Technical Manager of Higher Education at Al Fakhoora Programme, Education Above All (EAA) Foundation. His career spans over twenty-five years of global experience in the private, public, non-governmental, and state institutions. He has held several senior positions internationally, including Advisor, Dean, and Director General, contributing to the advancement of higher and executive education, certification institutions, language institutes, and international education partnerships.
Amir holds a PhD (summa cum laude) from the Centre for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies (CEDS, France), specialising in the Knowledge Society and Diplomacy. Along with being an Associate Professor and Expert Trainer, he has earned designations in leadership, management, and business development.
At the EAA’s Al Fakhoora Programme, Amir supports efforts to transform lives through access to quality and relevant higher and tertiary education opportunities by providing scholarships to over 10,000 marginalised and conflict-affected youth from 40 nationalities in more than 60 top-tier universities in over 10 countries.
