1 in 5
children in sub-Saharan Africa is out of school
%
of children in low-income countries cannot read by age 10
$10
trillion
dollars are lost each year as a result of children not learning
Millions of children are shut out of school due to global crisis, poverty, and discrimination.
Our award-winning programs ensure the world’s most vulnerable children get a chance to experience joyful learning.
Luminos runs catch-up education programs
Joyful, activity-based
learning
Assessment-based
instruction
Student-centered classrooms
Foundational
literacy & numeracy
Our results
A new randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the Luminos program shows dramatic learning gains for students.
children given a second chance education
%
of graduates transition to government school
2x
more likely to complete primary school than their peers
Students learn how to learn
Literacy in 10 months
Centered in a holistic approach
Training local teachers
Engaging parents & local leaders
Collaborating with government
Partnering with community-based organizations
Our results
teachers trained
government classrooms using our approach in the 2025-26 school year
parents and guardians engaged
Where we work
Ethiopia
Ethiopia is our largest and longest-running program
reaching thousands of vulnerable children through
direct delivery and government adoption. Learn more >
Lebanon
In Lebanon, Luminos serves Syrian refugee children,
helping them restart their education, catch up on
foundational skills, and thrive. Learn more >
Liberia
In just one year, Luminos students in Liberia achieve 90%
of the learning an average Liberian gains in a lifetime.
Learn more >
Ghana
In Ghana, Luminos collaborates with the government
and local organizations to enhance the national
accelerated learning curriculum and expand education
for vulnerable children. Learn more >
The Gambia
In The Gambia, Luminos collaborates closely with the
government to co-implement our accelerated learning curriculum,
bringing thousands of vulnerable and out-of-school children back
to learning. Learn more >
Featured by
Latest news
Unlocking the Light of Learning for Liberia’s Youth
International Youth Day’s 2026 theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” recognizes that young people everywhere share the same hopes, even as the paths to reach them vary widely. For many, that path starts with something foundational: the ability to read, write, and do basic math. Without those skills, the doors to further education, employment, and opportunity stay closed—regardless of how much a young person wants to walk through them.
That is the premise behind the Youth Educational Empowerment Program (YEEP!), a joint initiative of the Luminos Fund and Liberia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports: that strong literacy and numeracy skills unlock opportunity for out-of-school youth.
Azalech’s Story: From Out of School to Sixth Grade in Ethiopia
Azalech is a proud 6th-grade student in her local government school—and a proud Luminos alum. She excels in math and is focused on completing her education to one day become a doctor. Her journey to the classroom began at age 11, when she enrolled in the Luminos program after years out of school.
Five Issues from FLEX 2026 Shaping Foundational Learning
What does it take to move foundational learning from commitment to action, and to do it at scale?
That question sits at the center of the foundational learning agenda across Africa and beyond. It came into sharp focus at the 2026 Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX) in Lilongwe, Malawi, where education leaders, government representatives, funders, researchers, and practitioners spoke openly about what is working, what still needs work, and what governments need from their partners.
Data sources for initial statistics: (1 in 5) UIS/UNESCO; (92%) World Bank; ($10T) UNESCO
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