CNN: Education a focus on International Day of the Girl Child – In a world where over 100 countries lack free education, forcing poor families to choose between investing in their sons or daughters to go to school, only 30% of all girls worldwide enter into a secondary education. Women and girls “continue to be disproportionately excluded from education,” according to UNESCO, yet the benefits of educating girls continues to be astronomical in alleviating poverty. (Donna Krache)
NYT: Women Entrepreneurs Drive Growth in Africa – Female entrepreneurs like Bethlahem Tilahun, founder of the shoe company SoleRebels, believe that the media, preoccupied with the singular narrative of “Africa,” is missing the true story of Africa, one of growing opportunity that is beginning to see a rise in business ventures created entirely by women. (Josh Kron)
HuffPo: Investments in Girls: Half the Sky, but None of the Cash – Out of every aid dollar given, only half a cent goes to programs targeting girls. While there has been progress in educating girls throughout the developing world, some are wondering if the money can be better invested: in the hands of the women themselves. (Nicole Tosh)
NYT: Her ‘Crime’ Was Loving Schools – Overnight, Malala Yousafzai, the 14 year old girl activist who was shot by Taliban forces for her tenacity to speak up for girls everywhere, has become a symbol for female education rights. The power of education in a girl’s life is transformative, and the Taliban knows it, but the real question is, do we? (Nicholas Kristof)
Reuters: Girls, not brides: marrying at a young age puts girls at higher risk of HIV – Over 10 million underage girls are wed each year around the world, some as young as seven, and almost none have a say in the matter. Apart from the human rights issues involved with child-brides, studies are showing that underage marriage also is putting young girls at a much higher risk of HIV/AIDs.
