At this historic crossroads, STS remains committed to global education

The past six months have been marked by profound transitions. In the wake of decision made by the Trump administration, we lost 85% of our funding, brought virtually all USG-funded projects to a close, shuttered offices in Durham (NC), Pacifica (CA), and Lilongwe (Malawi), and parted ways with more than 80% of our dedicated global staff.

For more than two decades, School‑to‑School International (STS) has pursued a simple, powerful mission: to improve the lives and learning of children worldwide through thoughtful research, practice, and partnership. Since our founding, STS has collaborated with ministries, foundations, and communities in 52 countries. We’ve trained teachers, partnered with departments of education, provided students with learning materials, and championed education as a human right. Wherever our partnerships took us, our flagship Whole Child Model guided our work and helped students thrive by integrating education, health, and community engagement.

That mission now meets a historic crossroads. On January 20th, President Trump signed Executive Order 14169, pausing all U.S. foreign‑development assistance. Within weeks, USAID and its programs were defunded. On July 1st, all the remaining work was folded into the U.S. Department of State. For STS, the result is immediate and concrete: our core funding has ended.

The past six months have been marked by profound transitions. In the wake of these events, we lost 85% of our funding, brought virtually all USG-funded projects to a close, shuttered offices in Durham (NC), Pacifica (CA), and Lilongwe (Malawi), and parted ways with more than 80% of our dedicated global staff. These were not easy decisions—they are real losses that come with real grief. For a time, it felt as though School-to-School International was defined by what we had to let go.

The U.S.’s commitment to international aid may have faltered, yet the global need for equitable education remains. And so does School-to-School International.

In the face of this sea change, STS is responding with the optimism and perseverance that has powered every partnership since 2002. Today, we are pleased to share our ongoing commitment to work that prioritizes three pillars:

1. Implementing activities directly in Zambia, Tanzania, and other countries while mentoring local teams to take the reins.
2. Leading and contributing to high‑impact research and technical assistance opportunities that unlock better learning outcomes for children worldwide.
3. Prioritizing and directing resources to projects that reflect the Whole Child Model’s ethos.

STS’s next phase is not a retreat—it is the evolution of a vision rooted in the belief that education should be an opportunity for all children.

And we invite you to be part of it! By walking alongside our colleagues in Zambia, Tanzania, the U.S., and elsewhere, you ensure that students continue to learn, thrive, and succeed. Thank you for standing with STS at this pivotal moment.