It is so easy to take things for granted. We are born, learn to walk, play, go to school, learn, learn, learn, get a job, live our lives full of opportunities given to us on a plate. Sometimes, it gets really hard. Jobs come and go (or don’t come at all), relationships break down, bad things happen. But we always take school for granted. Some kids love it, some kids hate it. In UK, as in other European countries, not sending children to school or providing aligned home learning is in fact illegal.

In many African countries it is different. School is a privilege. Education is a privilege. Especially for girls, who have to support family businesses when some of the boys can go to school (which most often is a straw roof over nothing). As a father of two daughters I find it terrifying and feel even more privileged, because my girls can and have to go to school.

Allen & Overy employees are aiming to raise £1,000,000 over two years to support their Global Charity Partner, Street Child. Half of these funds will help transform the life prospects of girls living in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone by revitalising 40 primary schools; enabling 1,500 girls to enrol into secondary school and; supporting their families to keep them there through establishing an income-earning enterprise. The rest will help Street Child to ensure that every child, no matter where they live, is safe, in school, and learning.