{"id":61856,"date":"2025-08-12T15:11:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T15:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/61856\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T15:11:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T15:11:12","slug":"the-book-that-changed-our-lives-and-why-education-matters-for-every-child","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/61856\/","title":{"rendered":"The Book That Changed Our Lives, and Why Education Matters for Every Child"},"content":{"rendered":"

Learning to read and write is an important life skill that opens the door to knowledge, fuels critical thinking, and unlocks opportunities for personal and collective growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, for many children around the world \u2014 especially girls and those affected by conflict or displacement \u2014 access to basic reading materials, skilled teachers, and safe schools remains out of reach. This reality shuts them out of opportunities to participate fully in society and traps them in endless cycles of poverty and inequality.<\/p>\n

Every day a child is kept out of school is a day their potential is lost.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To ignite a global reminder of the power of education during this year\u2019s International Youth Day, we asked Global Citizens to share \u201cThe Book That Changed My Life.\u201d We also called on everyone \u2014 from everyday citizens to major companies \u2014 to donate to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and help raise $30 million by September to support 30,000 children with access to learning and sport.<\/p>\n

Here are the top 11 entries from across the world<\/p>\n

1. \u201cSometimes Mom Has Thunder in Her Head\u201d\u00a0by Beatriz Taboada<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
\u201cSometimes Mom Has Thunder in Her Head\u201d struck me because it tenderly shows how children and adults face difficult situations at home with love and understanding. Donating to the FIFA Global Fund for Citizenship Education before September can give 30,000 children the opportunity to learn, play, and find hope amid their own storms. \u2014 Laura Barajas, Mexico<\/p>\n

2. \u201cA Green Day \u201d by Jeevesh Gupta<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
\u201cA Green Day\u201d changed my life by turning my climate anxiety into purpose. It showed me that small, everyday actions matter, and that hope grows through community and courage. \u2014 Ina Maria Shikongo, Namibia<\/p>\n

3. \u201cPercy Jackson and the Olympians\u201d by Rick Riordan<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
\u201cPercy Jackson and the Olympians\u201d completely changed my life because it made me feel understood and showed me that being different isn\u2019t a weakness, but a superpower. It changed my perspective profoundly, and I\u2019m forever grateful for it. I believe books like this open doors and help people like me feel seen and special \u2014 and that\u2019s why education matters, and why donating to it means giving others the chance we\u2019ve all had to change society in our own way. \u2014 Valerie Castro, United States<\/p>\n

Help Unlock the Power of Education<\/p>\n

The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund is expanding access to education in some of the world\u2019s most underserved regions, giving young people the tools and agency to choose their path in life \u2013 whether building resilience at home or seizing opportunity abroad.<\/p>\n

4. \u201cAapka Bunty\u201d by Mannu Bhandari<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
The novel \u201cAapka Bunty\u201d by Mannu Bhandari is a commentary on the emotional cost of modern life and broken families. It highlights that education not only empowers the self, but also makes us more responsible toward others. This novel appeals for a society where children are not merely passive victims, but are given the space and voice they deserve. \u2014 Mahesh Kumar, India<\/p>\n

5. \u201cWhat Happened to You\u201d by Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce D. Perry<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
\u201cWhat Happened to You\u201d by Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce D. Perry opened my heart to healing by helping me confront childhood trauma and reflect on growing up on the Cape Flats in Cape Town \u2014 a place shaped by poverty but rich in resilience. Every child deserves the chance to learn, heal, and dream. Please donate to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund so more children can have that opportunity. \u2014 Melissa Ndlovu, South Africa<\/p>\n

6. \u201cNow I Know Why Tigers Eat Their Young\u201d by Dr. Peter Marshall<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
\u201cNow I Know Why Tigers Eat Their Young\u201d by Dr. Peter Marshall helped me realise how powerful patience, guidance, and love can be in shaping young minds. That\u2019s why I\u2019m supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, so that 30,000 children can have the chance to learn, play, and grow into the people they\u2019re meant to be. \u2014 Catherina Nelson, Ghana<\/p>\n

7. \u201cBetter Than The Movies\u201d by Lynn Painter<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
\u201cBetter than the Movies\u201d by Lynn Painter greatly changed the way I express myself to those around me. Building strong friendships has helped me navigate tough times. As a fellow soccer player, I believe it\u2019s important that everyone is given an equal chance to play this beautiful sport. You should definitely support this by donating to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. \u2014 Benjamin Haberjan, Germany<\/p>\n

8. \u201cThe Bell Jar\u201d by Sylvia Plath<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
\u201cThe Bell Jar\u201d changed my life by educating me about women\u2019s mental health and the expectations placed on them by society. I believe education is vital for raising awareness about women\u2019s rights, learning to overcome societal expectations, and rising above them. \u2014 Aadya, United Arab Emirates<\/p>\n

9. \u201cFratellino\u201d by Ibrahima Balde<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
\u201cFratellino\u201d is an Italian book that moved me deeply. As someone from Italy, this story changed how I see migration \u2014 not as news, but as the love of a brother searching for the other. Every child deserves safety, dignity, and family. Support Global Citizen and help protect them. \u2014 Simone Colella, Italy<\/p>\n

10. \u201cTo Kill a Mockingbird\u201d by Harper Lee<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
\u201cTo Kill a Mockingbird\u201d deeply impacted me by showing how courage, empathy, and justice can shine through even in the darkest moments of prejudice and inequality. Supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund before September will help give 30,000 children the chance to learn and grow with the same values this powerful story inspires. \u2014 HM Obaidul Mostafa, United States<\/p>\n

11. \u201cEducated\u201dby Tara Westover<\/p>\n

\"\"\/
\u201cEducated\u201d\u00a0changed my views on the importance of education and the reality that not everyone has access to it. Education should not be a privilege \u2014 it should be a right. Together, we can make it happen. \u2014 Maria Ardila, United States<\/p>\n

All quotes have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Learning to read and write is an important life skill that opens the door to knowledge, fuels critical…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":61857,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[457,96,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-61856","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-books","8":"tag-books","9":"tag-entertainment","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61856\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}