Rihanna Helps Raise $2.3 Billion for Global Education

Rihanna’s efforts have helped raise a whopping $2.3 billion for education in underserved countries.

As ambassador for the Global Partnership for Education, the superstar singer spoke at the inaugural GPE Financing Conference in Dakar, Senegal, where she thanked those who’ve pledged and donated, while explaining why her battle continues.

“We’ve made tremendous progress today, but of course, our work is never done,” she said. “We have a long way to go. This is a fight we’re never gonna stop fighting until every boy and every girl has access to education.”

Today’s @GPforEducation Replenishment Conference in Dakar, Senegal raised over $2.3B for global education!📓✏️🌎 @rihanna @GlblCtzn #FundEducation #CLF pic.twitter.com/FjBMvGHdPJ

— Clara Lionel Fdn (@ClaraLionelFdn) February 2, 2018

Hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Macky Sall, the president of Senegal, GPE’s Financing Conference was attended by seven heads of state, more than 60 ministers, the President of the World Bank, leaders of UN agencies, civil society organizations, and more, according to Global Citizen.

This continues RiRi’s charitable work around the globe. In 2016, she was named a global ambassador for education by GPE. In February of last year, she earned Harvard’s Humanitarian of the Year Award for her work through her Clara Lionel Foundation and for constantly promoting education in various parts of the world, including Malawi.

When accepting her Harvard award, Rihanna explained what it means to be a humanitarian. “We’re all human,” she said. “We all just want a chance, a chance at life, a chance at an education, a chance at a future, really. At CLF [Clara Lionel Foundation], our mission is to impact as many lives as possible, but it starts with just one. Just one. As I stare out into this beautiful room, I see optimism, I see hope, I see the future. I know that each and every one of you has the opportunity to help someone else. All you need to do is help one person, expecting nothing in return. To me, that is a humanitarian.”