Nowhere on earth do women have as many opportunities as men. Nowhere. But for girls and women in the poorest countries, that inequality is amplified.
We won’t end extreme poverty until we break down the barriers holding girls and women back.
Sexism is global – the fight against it should be too. Join the movement and use your voice to call for change. We’re almost 8 million strong already, but we’ll be even more powerful with you.
Here’s how you can get involved…
WHY GIRLS?
Serafina’s Story
“I don’t want to just learn for myself, but to help others, too.”
Serafina is from Sudan but lives in Nairobi, Kenya. When her father lost his job, they couldn’t keep paying her school fees and she was forced to drop out. After three long years of waiting, she eventually got the chance to start learning again.
Now she’s focussed on putting her education to work and helping rebuild her country. “There are not enough teachers in South Sudan, and many children can’t go to school. So, I want to be a teacher and give them a chance.”
7 barriers to girls’ education you need to know about
The evidence that educating girls creates healthier, wealthier, fairer, and more stable communities is overwhelming. So why isn’t every girl getting a quality education? The barriers, particularly for girls in the poorest countries, are wide-ranging and complex but these are some of the most challenging.
Constance’s Story
“I wouldn’t talk. I couldn’t. I was so fearful and shy.”
When Constance got pregnant at 15, there was no choice but to drop out of school. Determined to continue her education, she returned to the classroom after her daughter was born.
She faced the stigma of being a teenage mother every day. But thanks to an after school club which taught her leadership skills and gender awareness, her confidence returned. She was picked to represent her school with a speech to parliament.
READ OUR REPORT
Educating every girl to secondary level in sub-Saharan Africa could help save the lives of 1.2 million children. Yet it costs less than a loaf of bread to educate a girl for a day.
There is a wealth of evidence to show that an educated country is one that is healthier, wealthier and more stable – and that universal, quality education is one of the best antidotes to poverty.
