Transformative Education in Fragile Environments
We hosted a lunch and panel discussion as our first event as Street Child Switzerland on the topic transformative education in fragile environments.
This page was created to ensure that the valuable insights, conversations, and reflections shared throughout the day continue beyond the event itself, allowing participants to relive the experience and others to engage with the discussions and ideas that shaped the day.
We hope that the insights, conversations, and reflections shared throughout this event continue far beyond the walls of the room. On this page, you can explore:
Opening speeches and reflections from Ömer Güven and Ariea Burke
A conversation with our Founder and CEO Tom Dannatt and the following a high-profile panel discussion
Insights around education, innovation, resilience, and long term partnerships
Flying lunch conversations and networking moments
The live graphical recording by Stephanie Gerteis
"Project 15", a photography exhibition sharing stories and perspectives from young people across Street Child project countries around the world
This live graphical recording below captures key insights and conversations around Street Child’s global impact, partnerships, and integrated approach to education in fragile environments.
The illustration highlights Street Child’s work across more than 20 countries, combining education, child protection, livelihoods, and humanitarian support. We reached since 2008 over 1.6 million children and collaborated with more than 200 local organisations worldwide.
See the graphic below
/f/233482/1920x1080/a00b7c49de/ch-website-images-47.png)
Country Manager Ömer Güven and Ariea Burke opened the lunch with powerful reflections on empathy, responsibility, and the urgent need for effective education in fragile and emergency contexts. Their speeches highlighted the importance of locally led action, agile delivery, strong partnerships, and sustainable impact, while reminding us that education is not only about access, but about creating safety, opportunity, and long term change for children worldwide.
We had a high profile panel with Alexandre Cabaret as moderator, joined by Tom Dannatt, Founder and CEO of Street Child, Ramya Madhaven, expert in education in emergencies and evidence based learning approaches, Petra Heusser, humanitarian and strategic leader with extensive international field experience, and Manuel Meister, bringing perspectives on innovation, sustainable transformation, and private sector collaboration. Together, the panel explored the importance of locally led solutions, strong partnerships, and long term impact in creating opportunities for children living in fragile and crisis affected environments.
"It was an inspiring opportunity bringing together civil society, corporate partners, foundations, individual donors and others to explore how we can collectively step up and tackle the global education crisis." - participant
The lunch created a welcoming space for participants to connect, exchange ideas, reflect on the discussions, and build new relationships across sectors. More than just networking, it became a moment of genuine dialogue, collaboration, and shared purpose.
Alongside the discussions, guests were also invited to experience Project 15, a photography exhibition sharing images and personal stories captured by young people from Street Child project countries around the world, offering a deeply human insight into their everyday lives, hopes, and realities.
We were happy and deeply moved by this event and the meaningful conversations and connections that came out of it. Our goal was to bring together voices from business, philanthropy, education, and the nonprofit sector to exchange perspectives and explore how education can create lasting impact in fragile and crisis affected environments.
Throughout the afternoon, guests gained first hand insight into Street Child’s work, heard from practitioners and partners across education, innovation, and resilience, and exchanged ideas around how meaningful change can be created together.
We truly believe the event went beyond our original goals and marked an important milestone for Street Child Suisse and the conversations we hope to continue far beyond this event.
One of the special highlights of the event was the live graphical recording created by Stephanie Gerteis. Throughout the discussions, she captured the key ideas, conversations, and themes of the day in a unique and creative visual format, transforming complex discussions into an engaging and inspiring piece of storytelling.
It was a wonderful opportunity to have such a talented artist and facilitator accompany the event and help bring the conversations to life in such a thoughtful and human way. Her work not only documented the day, but also created a lasting visual reflection of the ideas, energy, and collaboration shared throughout the lunch.
We are incredibly grateful for her contribution and invite you to discover more of her work and creative practice here.
Education is a fundamental human right, and with your support, we will improve the lives of thousands of children.