Doron Isaacs, Deputy General Secretary of Equal Education, will talk about the organizing and advocacy strategies that South African youth, teachers, parents, and community members have used to advocate for education equality. Equal Education is a grantee of Open Society Foundations. Isaacs is currently working out of the OSI-Baltimore office during his sabbatical to complete his research on U.S. education policy.

Equal Education is a six-year-old organization that has successfully forced the South African government to set equal standards for all schools in the county. The organization engaged thousands of students from grades 8-12 to advocate on behalf of public education. Called “Equalizers,” these students led the effort to secure a court order requiring education officials to set standards for school buildings and facilities. The resulting standards are necessary to ensure that poor schools, which have operated without libraries, or even roofs, get the resources they need. To learn more about this effort and view the official court order, please click here.

Equal Education is an extraordinary youth organizing effort that has much to teach us in America. We hope to see you at this event.